Women on a roll: Swach trains 22 to drive trucks in Pune

Solid waste collection and handling (Swach) is training another batch of 22 young women to drive garbage collection trucks.

The second batch would complete its 25-working day training in a week's time and would be absorbed as truck drivers.

Swach kicked off the project last year under which 44 women were trained.

"Out of those, 10 are working with Swach in Pimpri-Chinchwad area. Some have either got married and shifted to other places, or are on leave due to some family or health issues," said Kalpana Kavadi, a functionary of Swach attached with the project.

The training of these women is sponsored by Tata Motors and the contract to train them is given to Ambika Motor Driving Centre of Thermax Chowk, Pimpri.

A senior officer of Tata Motors, Ujwala Khadalkar, told DNA that this year a target of training 50 young women was set, but so far only 22 have enrolled for training.

"This project was implemented so that women, instead of carrying the waste themselves, can ferry the waste in trucks. Moreover, the project would enable women to learn driving, which would help them in getting employment in the future," Khadalkar added.

Satvasheela Potekar, who underwent training last year, said it had boosted her confidence. "Our work efficiency has increased," she added.

Echoing similar views, another women driver, Archana Kamble, thanked the organisation for imparting training to women in driving vehicles.

"The women that completed training last year have turned out to be better drivers than men, as the ratio of accidents is very negligible," said Kavadi.

All the trainees have to undergo tests at the RTO to get a permanent driving licence. According to the RTO, Swach enrolls only those women for training who have passed standard VIII in school.