Uttarakhand Woman Breaks Stereotypes by Repairing Tyres of JCBs, Trucks and Buses

Kamla Negi from Odakhan village in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district has mastered a skill that has traditionally been associated with men in the hill regions. Today, she can repair tyres of almost every kind of vehicle—from bicycles and cars to trucks, buses, dumpers and even heavy JCB machines.

Kamla started her journey around 2004 with a small business of renting bicycles to children. Whenever a bicycle developed a puncture, instead of taking it to someone else for repair, she decided to learn the skill herself. What began with bicycle punctures gradually expanded to scooters and motorcycles, and eventually to cars, trucks, buses and heavy machinery such as JCBs.

In the beginning, Kamla faced taunts and criticism from people who were surprised to see a woman working with heavy tools. But rather than responding to the comments, she chose to let her work speak for itself. Years of practice and determination have now earned her popular nicknames such as “Tyre Doctor” and “Iron Lady.”

Her tyre repair shop on the Ramgarh–Mukteshwar road has become an important stop for local residents as well as drivers passing through the area. According to reports, there is no other puncture repair shop within nearly a 25-kilometre radius of her shop.

Kamla is also available when people need help on the road. Since her home is located close to the shop, vehicle owners can call her whenever they need assistance, and she often goes out to help them.

Kamla Negi’s story is a powerful example of how determination and hard work can break traditional gender stereotypes. What started as a small attempt to repair bicycle punctures has turned into a unique skill that has made her a trusted name among drivers in the region.

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