UberSHAAN initiative aims to skill 1 million by 2018

Uber has announced its new initiative that aims at creating opportunities as micro-entrepreneurs in India by 2018 dubbed UberSHAAN. This initiative is looking to train the unskilled and eventually provide economic opportunities across the spectrum. According to Uber, it is aimed at creating one million livelihood opportunities as micro-entrepreneurs in India by 2018.With this initiative, Uber wants to help trained drivers receive commercial licenses and support the entrepreneurial ambitions of licensed drivers through vehicle financing and leasing solutions. The initiative was launched at the ninth Global Skills Summit at FICCI, and Uber has announced partnerships with Maruti Suzuki and National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) in support of this vision.Uber has signed an MoU with Maruti, and the two will conduct a four month pilot in Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad and Chennai and organise driver training and on-boarding programmes that is needed to join the Uber platform. On completion of training and receipt of a commercial license, Uber will support successful candidates by offering vehicle financing and leasing solutions. This is a pilot phase, and depending upon how it goes, the initiative will be expanded to other cities. Uber has teamed up with NSDC to promote skill building in the automobile sector.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.”