Pune women find professional driving jobs through Nirman training programme
Nearly 75 women have secured employment with monthly earnings ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 through the initiative.
A training and employment initiative run by Nirman has helped approximately 75 women in Pune find work as professional drivers, according to the Times of India. The programme, led by Vaishali Bhandwalkar, has trained around 100 women over the last three to four years.
The initiative aims to create jobs for women from marginalised communities, including minority communities, Scheduled Castes, and nomadic or denotified tribes. Training includes road safety, vehicle knowledge, digital literacy, and the use of Google Maps.
Jyoti Sonawale, a 45-year-old resident of Nigdi, began driving IT company employees in Hinjewadi after losing her husband and mother-in-law during the Covid-19 pandemic. She said the work has provided her with financial stability and the ability to support her three daughters' education.
Sulochana, a resident of Manjari, transitioned from domestic work to professional driving after her husband died four years ago. She currently transports employees of a multinational company in the Viman Nagar-Kharadi area and sometimes works two shifts a day.
The programme also includes training for heavy motor vehicles such as buses and trucks. Bhandwalkar stated that ten women have completed heavy motor vehicle training and obtained the necessary licences, with the programme providing guidance for potential employment in Europe.