FICCI-FLO, Maruti train women drivers in textile city

The city-based driving school unit of car major Maruti will provide free training for women to become taxi drivers.

Chairperson of FLO Coimbatore Chapter B Uma Maheshwary told DT Next that the programme has the dual objective of empowering women from financially backward families and to give women and children the comfort of travelling with women taxi driver. “It will be an ongoing project,” she added. 

She said the project was conceptualised after a spate of incidents involving lone women travellers in major cities. While such incidents do not classify male taxi drivers as bad, the initiative is aimed at motivating women drivers to buy in on the concept of driving.  

Maheshwary said women taxi drivers would be preferred by women entrepreneurs, working women who travel late at night and for school and college pickup and drops. “Once they get a licence we will also help them get taxis by assisting them in availing bank loans. This may facilitate Coimbatore get pink taxi drivers in more numbers,” she added. 

Elaborating on the free training scheme, network manager of Maruti Suzuki India K Suresh said they charge Rs 8,300 for the regular 21-day training programme that includes 10 hours on road practical training.