OLA to invest 100 crore into training one lakh drivers

Ola Cabs has promised to invest Rs 100 crore over three years into the training and skill development of over one lakh drivers.

In a statement, the company explains that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to that effect.

Manish Kumar, MD and CEO, NSDC said, “We are extremely happy to work alongside Ola, driving this campaign that has the potential to significantly improve livelihoods and contribute to the economic growth of lakhs of Indians. Such initiatives will go a long way in promoting skill development and creating an environment of entrepreneurship for the people of the country.”

Ola claims to see “phenomenal growth” in the mobility sector and seeks to “empower” people from all walks of life. The money will be invested in the training of drivers and the requisite skills. The MoU was signed by Ola co-founder and CEO Bhavish Agarwal and Kumar, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of State Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy and dignitaries.

Reportedly, NSDC and Ola will work together to identify people and then train them to be drivers, or “driver entrepreneurs”, as Ola calls them.

“The mobility sector in the country is witnessing phenomenal growth and has the potential to empower aspiring individuals from all walks of life to become entrepreneurs. We are extremely excited to partner with NSDC to invest in the training and skilling of drivers as this would help us in realising our objective of nurturing micro-entrepreneurship,” Aggarwal said.