Rajasthan women drivers felicitated in Jaipur, Chief Secy hails global Indian talent
Synopsis
Six women who broke through financial hardship and social barriers were handed car keys at a Jaipur ceremony — a small but pointed signal of Rajasthan's push to align domestic skilling with global employment demand. The state's pivot toward left-hand drive training, sparked by diaspora feedback at Pravasi Rajasthan Diwas, is an underreported policy move with real international employment potential.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Chief Secretary V.
Srinivas addressed the Women Drivers' Felicitation Ceremony in Jaipur on 8 July .
Six women — Sanju, Vinita, Sona, Sumitra, and Sandhya — were presented with car keys after completing professional driver training.
The Rajasthan Foundation identified rising global demand for left-hand drive -trained drivers through its international chapters.
The event was jointly organised by the Azad Foundation and SBI Foundation at the Rajasthan International Centre .
Organisations Azad Foundation and Sakha were recognised for creating employment avenues and empowerment models for women.
Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas on 8 July highlighted the growing global recognition of Indian professionals while addressing the Women Drivers' Felicitation Ceremony in Jaipur as chief guest. Speaking at the event jointly organised by the Azad Foundation and SBI Foundation at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), he underscored how Indian talent is making a measurable impact across countries worldwide.
Rajasthan Foundation's Role in Overseas Connections
Chief Secretary Srinivas noted that the Rajasthan Foundation, operating under the state government, is actively bridging the gap between non-resident Rajasthanis and their home state. The Foundation's chapters, established across multiple countries, facilitate information on overseas employment opportunities and maintain diaspora ties.
He added that during the Pravasi Rajasthan Diwas, representatives from these international chapters flagged a rising demand for professionally trained drivers capable of operating left-hand drive vehicles. This insight directly informed the state's decision to develop specialised driving tracks in Rajasthan offering internationally aligned training.
Six Women Honoured for Breaking Barriers
The ceremony's centrepiece was the felicitation of six women who overcame financial hardship and social barriers to build careers as professional drivers. Each was presented with car keys upon successful completion of their training — a symbolic and practical marker of their new professional chapter.
The women honoured included Sanju, associated with Sakha Cabs for five years; Vinita, serving for one year; Sona, a professional driver for five years; Sumitra, also with five years of experience; and Sandhya, associated with Sakha for four years. The newly trained drivers were formally flagged off at the conclusion of the event.
Empowerment Organisations Leading the Way
Chief Secretary Srinivas specifically commended the work of organisations such as the Azad Foundation and Sakha, describing their initiatives as creating new employment avenues for women while setting a replicable model of women's empowerment for other institutions to follow.
Notably, these organisations have worked with women from difficult social and family circumstances, helping them build self-reliant careers through structured training and professional placement.
Key Officials Present
Among the dignitaries at the event were Bhawani Singh Detha, Principal Secretary of the Rajasthan Transport Department; Alka Sharma, Chairperson of the Azad Foundation Governing Board; and Srinivas Rao, National Lead, along with other distinguished guests.
The ceremony signals a broader push by Rajasthan to align domestic skilling programmes with international employment demand — a model that, if scaled, could benefit thousands of women across the state.
Point of View
But the policy thread running through it deserves more attention. Rajasthan's decision to build left-hand drive training infrastructure — triggered by direct diaspora feedback at Pravasi Rajasthan Diwas — is a rare example of an Indian state government translating NRI input into a concrete skilling response. The question is scale: felicitating six women is a beginning, not a programme. If the Rajasthan Foundation's international chapters can funnel verified job demand back into structured training pipelines, the model has real export potential. Without that feedback loop being formalised, this risks remaining a well-intentioned ceremony rather than a replicable employment pathway.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Women Drivers' Felicitation Ceremony in Jaipur?
It was an event jointly organised by the Azad Foundation and SBI Foundation at the Rajasthan International Centre on 8 July, where six women who completed professional driver training were presented with car keys. Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas attended as chief guest.
Who are the women felicitated at the Jaipur ceremony?
The six women honoured were Sanju (five years with Sakha Cabs), Vinita (one year of service), Sona (five years as a professional driver), Sumitra (five years of experience), and Sandhya (four years with Sakha). Each overcame financial and social challenges to build a professional driving career.
What is the Rajasthan Foundation and what role does it play?
The Rajasthan Foundation is a state government body that connects non-resident Rajasthanis with their home state and facilitates information on overseas employment opportunities through chapters established in various countries. It was instrumental in identifying global demand for left-hand drive-trained drivers.
Why is Rajasthan developing left-hand drive training tracks?
During the Pravasi Rajasthan Diwas, representatives of Rajasthan Foundation chapters from different countries highlighted growing demand for professionally trained drivers capable of operating left-hand drive vehicles. This led the state to plan specialised driving tracks offering internationally aligned training.
What is the Azad Foundation's role in women's empowerment?
The Azad Foundation, along with Sakha, trains women from difficult socio-economic backgrounds as professional drivers, creating structured employment pathways. Chief Secretary V. Srinivas described their model as replicable and an inspiring example of women's empowerment.
