School students and women take part in the save-oil campaign. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Jan. 18: Oil conservation and women’s empowerment may not be woven by a common thread, but the “oil conservation fortnight”, which began from January 15, saw a large number of women two-wheeler riders taking part in a rally organised by the oil companies here today. “The women can now handle both — home and two-wheelers,’’ gushed an effusive organiser.

There has been a sudden spurt of women riders, who need to be explained the “finer points” of driving to get the maximum mileage from their vehicles while saving on fuel.

Nearly 172 participants enrolled at the JAP-I grounds for the rally. A mini-quiz was also conducted to keep the entrants assembled in one place. Women and school children sporting white caps and jackets took-off on their two-wheelers and cycles.

The party started from Doranda and went to Birsa Chowk and returned to the starting point through Shyamali Colony.

Sarabjeet Kaur, who took part in the rally, was bubbling with enthusiasm. “I started driving a two-wheeler only a couple of days ago and was a bit shaky at the beginning. But seeing so many women was a moral boost and the exposure will certainly me good,” said Kaur, who works as an assistant librarian in a city school.

All the two-wheelers carried placards saying, “Burn calories and not fuel, save petrol”. Students of Delhi Public School and DAV, Shyamali, also cycled along with the motorists.

“Women have always been left out of campaigns and programmes conducted in the past. The sector has been completely neglected and we intend to include women in our campaign to ensure oil conservation,” said Indian Oil Corporation state co-ordinator Indrajit Bose.

“The response was good. All those who took part will not forget the experience and this will go a long way in saving fuel. Even if a handful of those who took part in the rally today inculcate a few driving traits, our purpose will be achieved,” Bose added.

The rally has also been organised in six cities, including Chandigarh, Vishakhapatnam, Ranchi, Delhi, Lucknow and Patna. Essay-writing competitions will also be organised as part of the conservation programme. Participants can write the essay either in English or Hindi while contestants at Vishakhapatnam can write in Telugu.

The essay-writing competition will be organised for students during the conservation fortnight. Special mobile vans will be used for spreading the message of oil conservation in the capital, Dhanbad and in the villages.