MISSION MEERA (A Women Driving Training Programme)

The Mission MEERA programme empowers resource poor women to become professional drivers to enable them to gain remunerative ‘livelihoods with dignity’. The programme also enhances their awareness on rights and enables them to become independent and confident individuals in charge of their lives.

The Mission MEERA programme organized on 19th of October in Udaipur, Rajasthan. We acknowledge that this successful programme is combined initiative of Shreenath Ji Sewa Sansthan, Transport Department, Rajasthan, 

Mission Meera was done by the Transport Department - Government of Rajasthan, Shrinathji Seva Sansthan in collaboration with the associate organizations Mewar Vagad Janjati Sanstha and Shining Souls. The vehicle training was organized in collaboration with Ashok Leyland Driver Training Institute.

By preparing and placing women drivers as professional drivers, the Mission Meera programme enables socially excluded female members of the society to move from the margins to mainstream economy. Through this process, we alter public perceptions about women’s participation in the booming public transportation sector and the role and status of women in society.

The Mission Meera and support

Mission Meera works with young women, mostly aged 18-35, living in slums and resettlement colonies in cities, with meagre economic capital. Most of them are either out of work, or work in low paid professions traditionally assigned to women. Many trainees have dropped out of formal education prior to completing class 12, hence their employment choices are limited. Many have not been outside their neighbourhood and several live in abusive relationships.

Shining Souls women driver training

Mission Meera programme provides technical, self-empowerment and self-development training to fully equip women to become self-sustaining professional drivers.

“WHEN I WAS TRAINING, I WOULD FEEL LIKE I COULD STAND ON MY OWN FEET, I COULD DO ANYTHING. BECAUSE OF THAT I FEEL LIKE I’M LIVING MY LIFE FREELY TODAY – Rashmi - Udaipur

 
How are we doing it?

Upon a successful registration for the programme, women commence our learner-centred training programme, which takes between six to eight months depending on the individual pace of a trainee. Shining Souls works with a range