Help Women in India Become Professional Drivers

In its journey for over a decade, Azad Foundation has been working with the mission to address structural barriers preventing women’s entry into the workforce such as mobility restrictions, violence at home and in public places, burden of unpaid care work and the lack of gender-sensitive infrastructure and social security. In line with this mission, Azad engages with policy-makers, industry and civil society organisations and undertakes evidence-based research to influence public policies, create decent jobs for women in the transport industry, promote gender-inclusive public infrastructure and build a gender-just society.

Azad, along with its strategic partner Sakha, has strengthened partnerships with the state, industry, civil society and academic institutions to create diverse and sustainable opportunities for women in the transport industry. We moved beyond borders and formed strategic partnerships in Europe, opening new doors of opportunities for women as trailer truck drivers. An Impact Assessment Study on Azad’s work since 2008, conducted by Ambedkar University New Delhi, enabled Azad to reflect upon the significance of engaging with families and communities of women from resource-poor communities joining driving training within its Gender Just Skill Education (GJSE) framework.

From 1 to 34: More Women Claim Space in Public Transport

The transforming scenario of public transport in Delhi today, with tens of women plying Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and many receiving training for bus driving would have remained a distant dream if not for Azad, Sakha and Delhi Transport Corporation’s partnership and commitment. Azad and Sakha began engaging with the DTC in the year 2014, when there was only a single woman bus driver in DTC. Over the years of engagement, Azad conducted policy analysis, evidence-based research and presented its recommendations for the inclusion of women in public transport to DTC resulting in a landmark victory in 2022 with the Delhi Government’s announcement for relaxation in criteria for selection of women drivers in DTC.

Since 2022, 34 women have been appointed as bus drivers by the DTC, 123 more women have undergone Heavy Vehicle License training and many are still receiving training to become bus drivers. These women are pushing boundaries by achieving economic independence, reclaiming mobility and safe and violence free lives, educating their next-generation and negotiating equal sharing of household work.

 “I was appointed as a DTC bus driver in 2022 and have broken the prejudices of people who were doubtful of my capability. I am educating my daughters in a Government School and preparing them to stand up on their own feet.”

–Renuka (name changed), DTC bus driver

Realising Dreams Beyond Borders: Women in Trailer Driving

Azad Foundation, in collaboration with our partners Sakha and Janvikas, has embarked on a ground-breaking partnership with Baton Transport, a Hungary-based transport company, alongside Banyai Consulting and Vega Group. This one-of-its-kind initiative by Baton Transport to recruit women to drive trailer trucks in Hungary is set to change the landscape of the trucking industry and promote gender diversity in the industry.

Women drivers from Sakha and Janvikas with heavy vehicle licenses underwent interviews, comprehensive training, and rigorous test drives in Delhi and Bangalore. Some drivers also visited Europe in the month of August for an exposure trip where they met with the team of Baton Transport, Banyai Consulting and Vega Group with the support from Azad’s donor i-Partner.

12 drivers from Sakha and Janvikas successfully cleared the selection stages and the first batch of 5 drivers is preparing for their transformative journey to Europe in October. The association is ensuring essential training, including English language classes and EU rules and regulations training pertaining to trailer driving in Europe along with logistical planning, including passport and visa procurement for these women. The women embarking on this journey will enjoy several benefits through this employment opportunity including accommodation, social security and incomes ranging from 822 to 1463 Euros, depending on their working hours.

This partnership showcases women’s resilience, their negotiation skills in exercising the choice to travel to another country for work as well as the success of Azad and its partners’ long-term engagement with the families and communities of the women drivers.

Impact Assessment of Azad’s Work: A Feminist Evaluation

An impact assessment study on Azad’s work for over a decade (2008-2022) was conducted by Prof. Krishna Menon and Prof. Rukmini Sen and their team from Ambedkar University New Delhi (AUD). This study, emerging from a significant partnership between AUD, an academic institution and Azad Foundation, a civil society organization, aspires to serve as a knowledge aggregator for scaling-up and mainstreaming the inclusion of women in non-traditional skilling and workforce.

The assessment has been conducted using feminist research methodologies and principles and highlights the impact of Azad’s Gender Just Skill Education (GJSE) framework that aims to transform the lives of women from resource-poor communities, based on the Skill++ model. The study found that the understanding of women as workers and the value ascribed to women’s work and labor are closely intertwined with family dynamics, women’s sexuality, care work and violence against women and hence, found Azad Foundation’s work noteworthy as it aims to enhance women’s agency and autonomy by entering non-traditional livelihoods.

The report recommends strengthening the Gender Just Skill Education Framework to achieve Azad’s mission in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Read the complete report here: http://azadfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Azad-Impact-Assessment-Report.pdf

Join us on this transformative journey as we empower women to break more barriers, forge new paths, and create a gender inclusive transport industry! 

Links:

• Impact Assessment of Azad Foundation Programs (2008-22)- Report

• 34 women have been appointed by DTC as bus drivers (PDF)