In a first, women-run Garage on Wheels to launch doorstep vehicle service in Indore

In an attempt to increase technical employment opportunities for women, the Samaan Social Development Society in Indore has come up with a new initiative, Garage on Wheels. As per the initiative, the trained women mechanics will be providing their services to repair and maintain two-wheelers. The organisation will also provide roadside assistance to the people. To facilitate the same, a Maruti van has been modified into a mobile garage. The garage van will have a woman driver as well.

Garage on Wheels, inaugurated on International Women’s Day

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So far, there are two mechanic garages in Indore that are completely run and operated by women. The project to empower women was aptly inaugurated on the occasion of International Women's Day. Joint Director, Department of Women and Child Development, Dr Sandhya Vyas inaugurated Garage on Wheels.

She appreciated the efforts of the Samaan Society for empowering and upskilling women to bag technical opportunities as drivers and mechanics. Vyas deemed the project of great importance since it is helping women explore new dimensions of employment and setting examples for others to follow. Society members shared that the initiative will save people from multiple trips to service stations.

WOW - Women on Wheels

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The Garage on Wheel initiative has been launched under the Samaan Society’s Women on Wheels programme. This programme is run in partnership with the Azad Foundation. Society members and volunteers went door to door to survey if women are encouraged to take the driver’s seat. Simultaneously, those who showed interest were encouraged to register with the programme.

So far, the Society has trained 150 women to drive and handle cars. Along with that, they have also been given basic training for self-defence, first aid, GPS, statutory information and driving laws, reproductive health, gender violence, communication skills, and spoken English, resulting in the hiring of 25 women as drivers. The move is aimed at enabling women in different spheres of society.