A major initiative is being undertaken in Bihar towards making women self-reliant. For the first time in the state, professional driving training for women is being arranged based on the Kerala model.
Under this scheme, a total of 6,000 women will be trained as professional drivers. For this, special driving training institutes will be opened in the districts of Nalanda, Supaul, Motihari, and Banka. This scheme will be operated with assistance from the central government, with approximately Rs 68 crore to be spent across the four centres.
At these training centres, women will be given professional training to drive trucks, buses, taxis, tempos, and motorcycles. A key feature is that an automated driving testing track will also be constructed, where trained women will take a driving test based on technical proficiency. Upon successful completion, they will be awarded a licence and a professional certificate.
Under the scheme, approximately 1,500 women will be trained each year. In this way, a total of 6,000 women will be given professional driving training over four years, making them employable.
The training will take place in a completely organised and safe environment, where everyone from officials to staff will be women. This will not only provide a comfortable atmosphere for the women undergoing training but will also boost their confidence.
The government believes that increasing women's participation in the driving sector will open up new possibilities in the transport sector. Currently, this field is considered male-dominated, but this initiative will give women a direct opportunity to operate buses, taxis, and other commercial vehicles. This will enable them to gain employment in both the public and private sectors.
These training centres will provide information not only on driving vehicles but also on traffic rules, road safety, vehicle maintenance, and handling emergency situations. In addition, the women will be familiarised with digital systems, GPS, and modern vehicle technology, so that they can keep pace with the times.
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The government's objective through this scheme is to make women financially strong and provide them with respectable employment. This scheme is considered to be opening doors to new opportunities, especially for women from rural and semi-urban areas. In the time to come, this initiative could become an example of women's empowerment in Bihar.