The inauguration of a new batch under the Saksham Project, a flagship women-centric skilling initiative supported by Hero MotoCorp Limited and implemented by the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) coinciding with the convocation of the trained batch of women candidates on July 6 at Vaishali (Hajipur), Bihar, marked a significant milestone in journey of this initiative.
Chief Guest, Chirag Paswan, Union Cabinet Minister for Food Processing Industries was joined by Awadhesh Singh, MLA, Vivek Kumar, MD & CEO, Vision India Services Pvt Ltd, district administration, senior representatives from ASDC and Hero MotoCorp for this event that celebrated the graduation of women trained in Automotive Tele calling, Electric Vehicle Service Assistance, and Automotive Sales Executive job roles, while also welcoming a fresh cohort of trainees from the region.
In his address, Chief Guest Shri Chirag Paswan said that these sisters receiving skill training, certification, and placement represent the changing face of Bihar. He added that this is the result of the Government of India’s skilling initiative, which is enabling women to step into sectors that were once considered male-dominated.
Appreciating ASDC’s efforts, he highlighted that there are ample opportunities in the automobile sector even at the rural level. With the rise of electric vehicles, these opportunities are set to grow further. He also shared the idea of setting up a Center of Excellence in the near future.
Commenting on the project’s growing impact, Vinkesh Gulati, Vice President, ASDC said, “Saksham is a transformative program aimed at addressing the gender disparity in India’s automotive workforce. The project focuses on equipping women—particularly from underserved communities—with technical and soft skills for careers in both conventional and electric vehicle segments.
Further he said: “The numbers speak volumes, but the real success of Saksham lies in the lives it has transformed. With over 4,000 women trained and thousands more to follow, we are not just filling workforce gaps—we are rewriting the story of women’s participation in the automotive sector. Saksham is proof that when industry, government, and society come together, real change is possible.”
Following the success of Phase I, Saksham Phase II is now underway, targeting 20,000 women across eight high-demand job roles in the automotive sector. As of March-end, 2,299 women have been mobilized, and 1,890 are currently undergoing training.
