3 ARUN K - News Photographer/Malayala manorama

Passion and determination know no bounds and Jilumol Mariet Thomas is an example of these qualities. The 32-year-old woman from Kerala is the first Asian woman without arms to get a driving licence. Jilumol deftly uses her feet to drive, thereby speeding up her life. After six long years of waiting, she finally got her licence in 2023, due to a congenital disorder, Thomas was born without arms. Her courage and determination to be able to drive herself made her do it. Idukki native Jilumol Mariet who works as a graphic art designer in Kochi has been pursuing her desire to get a four-wheeler driving licence over the last few years.A Kochi-based start-up firm, Vi Innovations, gave wings to her dreams by developing a voice commands-based system for operating indicators, wipers and headlamps for her car. The Kerala State Commission for Persons with Disabilities also backed her desire by taking up her case with the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department. Mariet passed the mandatory driving tests and the licence was issued to her under provisions in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. Incidentally, the rare achievement of the differently-bled woman came on the eve of the International Day of disabled persons.(Published on 3rd december 2023)

Malayala manorama, December 2023