ANISHA FRANCIS
anisha@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Marialeena Dias e Antao, 48, admits she is strong willed. “If I feel like doing something, or get inspired by something, I cannot rest until I go and do it,” she says. Maria’s life is driven by her love for adventure, the outdoors, animals, and lately, community service – which she does by zipping around Loutolim and Raia in her trusty pink auto rickshaw, ferrying women and seniors on their errands.
Maria grew up imbibing values of compassion and dedication. She was raised by hardworking parents—her father was a mechanic for MRF, and her mother managed a small poultry business while also feeding all the stray dogs in her locality in Ponda, where she spent her childhood and went to college, for a BCom degree.
After marriage, Maria spent a significant part of her life in East Africa, living in Tanzania with her husband, a software engineer, and their three children. When her eldest daughter completed her SSC there, Maria decided to return to Goa with the children, so her daughter could get the education she wanted.
Always eager to take on new challenges, Maria recently discovered an opportunity that aligned with her love for independence and innovation. She read about the pink rickshaw initiative and decided to buy one, motivated by her desire to do something unique. “I am part of a women’s self-help group here in Loutolim, where we meet up regularly and discuss entrepreneurship and other matters. Through them, I came across an ad for this pink rickshaw and thought, why not try it out. The demand is definitely there, since there is poor bus connectivity and many older people have no affordable means of transport,” she recalls. “Driving the rickshaw was very difficult at first. Even though I had been riding two-wheelers since my teen years and also drive four-wheelers, this three-wheeler stumped me,” she admits. Her nephew helped her learn, and she now uses the rickshaw to transport elderly neighbours and women. “Most of my customers call me when they need to go to the hospital or health centre. Others need transport to church or to the local markets for grocery shopping. People call me from across Loutolim and Raia,” she says, adding that she only accepts payments from those who can afford it.
Maria’s love for animals remains a central part of her life, and her rickshaw comes in handy to ferry sick animals as well – many animal rescuers have Marialeena on speed-dial. This week, she and her friend rescued eight newborn puppies abandoned by someone. “Their eyes were still closed. A friend called me, and we put them in the rickshaw and went around searching for a lactating mother to feed them,” she recalls. “This morning, I got a call at 6 am from a lady in my locality – a tortoise had wandered into her house and set up camp in her bathroom. She was terrified of it, so I went and picked it up, and will release it back into the wild,” she says.
Maria inspires women to pursue their dreams and always be fit and active. “Ladies, be strong. Do what you like and don’t quell your desires,” she urges, proving that with determination and a compassionate heart, one can make a difference both for their community and themselves.