CEAT’s CSR initiative project Swayam, being implemented by RPG Foundation, announced a major milestone by felicitating 35 women who are ready to embark on the next level of their journey as professional vehicle drivers. This initiative aims at driving a powerful social change in the motor driving industry. These Swayam trained women drivers will be placed with Priyadarshini Taxi Services, V-Link, Meru Cabs and school van services amongst others and also driver jobs in various radio Taxis like Uber, Ola Cabs, Concierge Services, online driver portals, etc. are being explored.
The occasion was graced by distinguished dignitaries like Ms. Snehal Ambekar, Mayor of Mumbai, Mr. Anant Goenka, Managing Director, CEAT Limited, Susiieben Shah (Founder, Priyadarshini Taxi Services), Mr. Neeraj Gupta (Founder, Meru Cabs), Mr. Sanjay Singh (Vice- President, V- Link ) and Mr. Anil Garg (President, Maharashtra, School Bus Owners Association). The women drivers were presented with keys by the respective service providers as a token of being hired for on-the-job training.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Anant Goenka, Managing Director, CEAT Limited said,” The program aims at breaking stereotypes in a male dominated field and focuses on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. I am proud that, Swayam, in its first phase has already gained an incredible response from women from less privileged background. We are not only training them but also exploring employment in taxi services, concierge service, school vans, patient care assistants cum drivers, etc. Working with any of these services, will easily help them earn between Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 per month. We hope to see a transformation in the lives of the underprivileged women trained by our CEAT Swayam program, driving vehicles in Mumbai and all across India and changing the quality of their life.”
Project Swayam focuses on empowering underprivileged women by professionally training them in motor driving, with an aim of making them financially independent. Started in March 2014, more than 3000 women from low income groups were covered as a part of the mobilization drive. The program is currently training 300 underprivileged women in Mumbai, Thane and Pune who will get driving license by the end of April 2015 through its training partner Motor Education & Training Association (META). META, a social enterprise, is one of the largest partners in driving skill certification program of the National Skill Development Corporation, Delhi. META aims towards creating safe and responsible drivers for future India. The association has a strong client relationship and quality of livelihood funnel for trained drivers. Besides Taxi services, livelihood for Swayam women drivers is also being explored in various segments like patient care assistant cum drivers, maid-cum-drivers, elderly care taker cum driver, valet parking drivers, concierge (at Airport, Hotels and offices), ambulance drivers, etc.
Speaking during the event Ms. Snehal Ambekar said, “With the steady rise in molestation and rape cases in the major cities of India, social initiatives like Swayam will go a long way towards providing a safe transport solution for women, which is the need of the hour. Women being driven by women will certainly increase safety all round.” In the year 2015-16 the goal of CEAT Swayam program is to train over 2000 women across 13 cities in India.
Besides training on driving skills, the women also undergo training in allied skills like self-defence, basic spoken English, customer service skills, grooming, first aid, defensive driving skills and training in mechanics to make them stand out as a professional and polished woman driver.