· UberSHAAN to focus on skilling the unskilled and mobilising the skilled workforce to become micro-entrepreneurs on the Uber platform
· MoUs signed with Maruti Suzuki and National Skills Development Corporation to support driver training and onboarding for the unskilled.
New Delhi, 15 September, 2016: Uber, the smartphone app that connects riders with drivers at the push of a button, today announced the launch of UberSHAAN, an initiative aimed at creating 1 million livelihood opportunities as micro-entrepreneurs in India by 2018. UberSHAAN will focus at expanding economic opportunities across the spectrum and will provide access to skill development and driver training to the unskilled. The initiative will also aim to help trained drivers receive commercial licenses and support the entrepreneurial ambitions of licensed drivers through vehicle financing and leasing solutions.
On the launch of the UberSHAAN initiative, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said, “The partnership between NSDC & Uber is a shining example of PPP(Public Private Partnership) in action. Through concerted efforts towards skill development and entrepreneurship building, we can mobilise the untapped potential of millions of Indians and support them in their journey towards self reliance and micro entrepreneurship. In this context, UberSHAAN’s vision to skill and empower 1 million individuals in the next 2 years and help them turn micro-entrepreneurs is creditable. We extend whole hearted support to this initiative and encourage people to benefit from this scheme.”
Amit Jain, President, Uber India said, “Uber is committed to creating more economic opportunities and extends full support to the government’s Skill India and entrepreneurship building initiatives. With UberSHAAN, our plan is to rapidly scale India’s entrepreneurial base and generate 1 million livelihood opportunities on the Uber platform by 2018. Our partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation and Maruti Suzuki will be instrumental in realising our goal by 2018”.
Launching the initiative at the 9th Global Skills Summit at FICCI, Uber also announced partnerships with Maruti Suzuki and National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) in support of this vision.
Commenting on the association, R S Kalsi, Executive Director (Marketing and Sales), Maruti Suzuki, said, “We are excited to partner with Uber India to train individuals in safe driving and provide micro-entrepreneurship opportunities to them. We expect to train 30,000 drivers under this programme. Through this partnership, we will be able to promote safe and responsible driving while facilitating meaningful livelihood for youth.”
As part of the MoU signed with Maruti, the two will conduct a 4 month pilot in Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad and Chennai and organise driver training and on-boarding programmes, which is required to join the Uber platform. On completion of training and receipt of a commercial license, Uber will also be supporting the journey of successful candidates by offering vehicle financing and leasing solutions. Based on learnings from the pilot, the partnership will be expanded to other cities across India.
Through its partnership with NSDC, Uber will support driver training at NSDC training centres nationwide that promote skill building in the automobile sector. Eligible drivers will be offered vehicle financing and leasing solutions from Uber. Additionally, Uber Partner Support Centres will be providing soft skills training to existing and new driver partners in collaboration with NSDC.
