Case Studies

Gajananbhai's father (45), a peon in The Arvind Mills, wished as all fathers everywhere wish, to raise his son's station in life. In his view, the ideal way to go about this would be by making him join the Driver's Training Programme conducted by SHARDA Trust. Gajananbhai himself had always been keen on a driver's job and what was more appealing was that the doctor for whom he had been working then was also on the look out for a driver. Thus, Gajananbhai (20) had seized this golden opportunity.

Gajananbhai's family structure was typical of a lower class Indian family. His father earned Rs 2000/- (two thousand rupees) at the mill and an additional Rs 450/- (four hundred fifty rupees) at a part-time job at Dr. P.H. Patel's clinic. Due to lack of suitable employment Gajananbhai, inspite of being an I.T.I. technician, had been working at the same clinic at a salary of Rs 1200/- (twelve hundred rupees) . He had three younger siblings, none of whom were earning.

A new era had dawned for Gajananbhai, a mere high school graduate, in February 1999 when he had registered himself for the Driver's Training Programme.

At that time the first instalment of the fees payable were Rs 950/- (nine hundred fifty rupees). The training was held at Western India Automobile Association in March 99 for a period of fifteen days.

It goes to the young man's credit that he had learnt car-driving in just 10 days ! The trainees had been given Fiats, Marutis, Fronties and Contessas to practice upon ; a fact much appreciated by Gajananbhai. Their trainer had trained them in the various aspects of driving, viz : how to change gears, the distance to be maintained while parking, how to reverse, how to negotiate inclines, etc. The best part of the training , in his view, had been the theory class from 3 to 5 p.m. each Friday.

SHARDA Trust's Driver's Training Programme had scored over other such programmes as it offered training on different types of vehicles. Thus, the trainees had got acquainted with the hand gears of a Fiat on one hand and the foot ones of a Maruti on the other. This feature assumed real significance when the trainees gained employment in large firms, as big companies generally have a varied fleet of cars.

In the months of April and May 1999, Gajananbhai had been employed as an apprentice driver at Ashok Mills through SHARDA Trust. The working hours had been from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening, whereas the stipend had come up to Rs 750/- (seven hundred fifty rupees). Though he hadn't encountered any difficulty at all, as a rule, a senior driver used to sit with him at all times. He used to drive both the Maruti as well as the Fiat equally well.

Gajananbhai has an interesting episode to relate of his apprentice days. Once, on the road, their car had a flat wheel. From his theory classes Gajananbhai had remembered how to change a wheel. So he had got down without being told to, had changed the spare wheel and continued on his way ! The senior driver had been awed and had asked, "Do you really know how to change a wheel ? Who taught you this ? Where did you train ?" That had made Gajananbhai's day as he had smiled smugly with confidence in his excellent training.

In June 99 he had been offered a job by Dr. Sowani, once again through SHARDA Trust. The timings and commuting had not been conducive to him so he had had to refuse that offer.

Dr. Patel and Gajananbhai had continued their relationship through his training and apprentice days. He had continued his 'compounder' work part-time even while apprenticing at Ashok Mills and ; the doctor on his part had continued paying him his entire salary. So after getting his licence, Gajananbhai had been tested and taken on by Dr. P.H. Patel - as his driver in addition to his original job.

From then on Gajananbhai had duel duties to perform - that of a 'compounder' and of a driver.

At the time of the interview, he reports to being immensely satisfied with his job, but continues to look out for better prospects.

His role model is his uncle who is a driver with Maharashtra State Transport Services. Gajananbhai believes that one day he too will don a Government badge and be either an S.T. or an A.M.T.S. bus driver ! His mentor Dr. Patel too has agreed to help him achieve his dream.

Gajananbhai attributes the turnaround in his humdrum life to the training offered by SHARDA Trust. He can now call himself a most competent driver which is why upto June 99 he had already cleared Rs 750/- (seven hundred fifty rupees) of his loan from the Trust.