Monika Radhika Prasad has turned her passion for driving into a source of living.
She services the villages of Nadarivatu and adjoining communities.
Her interest in driving began at the age of 14 when she was first introduced to the intricacies of driving by her elder brother.
“My brother taught me about the mechanics of driving and the importance of being responsible,” she said.
“He used to work at the Vatukoula Gold Mine and often in the evenings after work, he used to take me out for long drives.
“Driving was something that always excited me, and on empty roads he would let me change the manual vehicle gears while he steered the wheel.”
Ms Prasad began to seriously consider driving as a profession after she got married and obtained her driving license. She said her efforts were boosted by the encouragement and support of her husband.
“My husband is a very supportive man and he has helped me grow in confidence every day.”
Ms Prasad said her transport business got off the ground after she developed good relations with farmers of Nadarivatu and few other villages. She said they regularly hired her to transport their farm produce to the Tavua market.
“After getting my licence, I got in touch with farmers from Nadarivatu, Naga and Nagatagata and they are now my regular customers.” Ms Prasad lives in Toko, Tavua, with her husband and three sons.
