Women, transgender drivers get 20 e-autos under B.PAC’s initiative

B.PAC donates 20 electric autorickshaws to women and transgender drivers, promoting inclusive livelihoods in Bengaluru.

The Bengaluru Political Action Committee (B.PAC), with support from CGI, an IT and business consulting firm, handed over 20 electric autorickshaws to beneficiaries of its Women and Transgender Auto Drivers Training Programme to promote inclusive livelihoods in the city.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw inaugurated the event, ‘Sthree drivers: Wheels of Change’ in the city on Sunday (March 22). 

According to B.PAC, the programme has so far trained over 350 beneficiaries, many of whom are now operating autorickshaws across Bengaluru. The newly distributed electric autos were supported through CSR funding from CGI.  

The training programme is a 60-day initiative of over 200 hours of sessions on professional driving, road safety, traffic regulations, vehicle maintenance, customer engagement, financial literacy, and life skills. Participants are also helped in obtaining learner’s and driving licences and navigating regulatory processes, along with post-training support such as access to vehicles, rental and fuel assistance. 

Building on its current scale, B.PAC said it plans to expand the initiative city-wide and train over 1,000 women and transgender drivers in the coming year.