Auto majors focus on women-friendly vehicles

The Indian auto industry is increasingly focusing on women welfare programmes with companies enhancing representation of women in the workforce, supporting financial inclusion, developing tailored skilling programmes and launching two wheelers and buses equipped with safety and features for women who need access to safe, reliable and comfortable transportation.

- NIVEDITA MUKHERJEE

Srinivasan Services Trust (SST), the social arm of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram-Clayton SSTs has achieved inclusion of over 40 per cent female representation in its field force and collectivised over 60000 women into over 5000 self-help groups over the course of their journey. Additionally, SST has actively supported financial inclusion by facilitating Rs 85 crores through bank loans for 15,500 women, in this financial year empowering them to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours.

The TVS social outfit has been working for women empowerment in the rural belts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh for the past 27 years, through formation of women SHG and helping them sustain through interventions in diverse sectors such as training, credit linkage, livelihood programs and nudging them towards development of their community. One of the major livelihood interventions promoted by SST has been supporting over 10,000 livestock women farmers achieve a sustainable income ranging from Rs. 2000 to Rs 6000 per milch animal.

Besides, in the cluster of villages near Pune, SST has facilitated livelihood opportunities for over 200 women, enabling them to transition from daily wage labour to finding sustainable income between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000 within their villages. This transformation showcases the tangible impact of SST’s interventions on improving the lives of rural women.