Maruti Suzuki starts nation-wide professional driving training for weaker sections

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) will flag off the first orientation programme of the nation-wide driving training for weaker sections tomorrow. The Company had signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise of Ministry of Minority Affairs, to impart professional driving training for skill development among youth from minority communities early this year.

The first batch of beneficiaries from Karnataka will undergo training at various driving schools in the State. The company targets to train at least 600 people from the weaker sections from Karnataka.

Under this PPP initiative the company is confident to create several employment and self employment opportunities for the

beneficiaries. Given the substantial demand for trained drivers, the graduates can engage in professional driving, become driving instructors, start own business or even driving schools.

In the current fiscal the target is to train close to 4000 persons in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

MSIL will impart driving skills training through its 6 Institutes of Driving Training and Research (IDTRs) and 300 Maruti Driving Schools (MDSs) spread across the country. These driving schools impart training in driving both Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs).

Participants can choose from 30 day Professional Driver Program or shorter soft skills & map reading modules on LMV (cars). There are also option to choose a 45 day programme to upgrade to LMV/HMV, a 10 day train the trainer for instructors or an 11 day course on entrepreunership.

The course curriculum involves safe driving culture through theoretical sessions on behavior and road sense. MSIL has put in place the state of art facilities for facilitating comprehensive driving training programmes focusing on all aspects of driving, including skill, knowledge & attitude.