Bridgestone India Trains 200 women Under Yantrika Programme To Become Professional Drivers And Mechanics

Driver training lasts three and a half months and involves driving skills, preventive maintenance, and emergency repair.

Bridgestone India has trained over 200 women in Indore as professional drivers and mechanics as part of the Yantrika Program in collaboration with the Samaan Society. Sixty women have been trained as mechanics and 149 as drivers for two-wheelers.

Since June 2023, ten of these women mechanics have been part of the "Mechanic on Wheels" program, which provides two-wheeler servicing at consumers' homes as well as emergency roadside repairs when needed. All residents of Indore are welcome to use the services.

Driver training lasts three and a half months and involves driving skills, preventive maintenance, and emergency repair. Soft skills training is also provided in spoken English, map reading, first aid, and self-defence. There is additional information on women's laws, the Motor Vehicle Act, and the Insurance Act.

According to a press statement from the tyre manufacturer, the initial batch of these students have already become master trainers and are now training other women. The majority of trainees are working at motorcycle dealerships and service centers, and some have even opened their own garages. Mechanic on Wheels is the most recent offering under this program.

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As per Stefano Sanchini, Managing Director, Bridgestone India, the major pillar of mobility solutions is the development of trained talent. As more women want to be mobile, they seek out recognized support services.

The necessity for skilled workers and a reflection of women desiring to work in more mainstream areas led to the training of women in this core and unconventional field. These programs also provide people with financial independence, he says.