Maruti Suzuki India has successfully trained 15,000 tribal youth in developing good driving skills, as part of a joint initiative with the Gujarat Government. The students were trained at the All Gujarat Institute of Driving, Technical Training and Research (AGIDTTR) in Waghodia. Seventy percent or 10,500 of them have already secured employment or have taken up entrepreneurial roles.

AGIDTTR, which is a public-private-partnership between Maruti Suzuki and the Ministry of Tribal Development (Gujarat), was established in 2009. The AGIDTTR initiative is targeted at providing gainful employment opportunities for tribal youth.

The course curriculum is designed to incorporate basic life skills training and all-round personality development. The 30- to 45-day course equips the candidates to drive light motor vehicles (LMV), commercial vehicles, heavy motor vehicles, buses and forklifts. The scientifically designed course curriculum, practical training and a camera-based image processing technology enhances the learning process. In addition, the youth are also trained in soft skills like basic English, table manners, workplace etiquette, yoga, crafts, map reading and entrepreneurship.

Ajay Kumar Tomer, Executive Advisor, Corporate Planning and CSR, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “For the past 10 years, our expertise in training the students in safe driving, along with the support of the state government has resulted in smooth functioning of the institute. The enthusiasm of the youth towards learning driving and their aspirations to explore newer horizons has contributed immensely to the success of this initiative. They come from very humble backgrounds, most of them belonging to economically weaker sections of the society. The training bolsters their determination and dedication towards achieving their dreams of a better future. Today, these students have become the breadwinners for their families.”