Started in 2016, Basera’s Non-Traditional Livelihoods program envisions gender equality and inclusive development by enabling women to challenge existing power structures and disrupting the gender-based division of labour. The program seeks to train women from marginalised backgrounds with the skills and resources to pursue careers as professional drivers thereby empowering them economically to challenge societal norms regarding women’s roles in the workforce. Inducing women in NTL aims to bridge the gap and place resources in the hands of women.
Till date, more than 600 women have been enrolled and 60% of them have been placed in different forms of remunerative employment.
The program has rolled out a successful pilot program for women-driven E-Autos in partnership with the Urban Community Development Department. This program addresses last-mile connectivity in urban transportation and encourages the use of eco-friendly alternative modes of transportation. The innovative model is a demonstration of how last-mile connectivity, tackling climate change, women’s safety, and livelihoods can all be achieved by funding a systematic initiative that gives women the tools they need to be change agents.
Beyond individual empowerment, the program fosters community change.
As women step into newer roles, they become role models, inspiring others to break free from societal constraints. The program empowers women and reshapes societal perceptions, gradually eroding deep-seated gender biases. This transformation is vital for building a more just and equitable society.
Driverben’s Commercial Vehicle Initiative
India needs 1 crore drivers.
The road freight sector alone has a shortfall of 3 million commercial drivers, particularly in the clean fuel segment. Yet, women make up less than 1% of the Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) driver workforce today. This stark gender gap presents not only a challenge but also a powerful opportunity.
With the logistics sector projected to grow to $380 billion by 2025 and the increasing adoption of clean fuel fleets like LNG and EVs, the demand for skilled drivers is soaring. For women, entering this space means gaining access to formal employment, financial stability, and earnings that can be 2 to 3 times higher than traditional informal livelihoods.
This initiative challenges gender norms and opens a high-growth, formal pathway for women.
About the program:
In a joint collaboration with IDTR Railmagra, Driverben achieved a first-of-its-kind milestone. Women partners who previously secured Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licenses through our program took a bold and transformative leap forward.
Selected participants were sent for a one-month residential training program at the prestigious Ashok Leyland Driving Institute in Rajasthan. This advanced training marked a critical shift, it equipped women to enter the highly male-dominated field of heavy commercial vehicle operations.
Driving Ahead:
Following the initial HMV training, Driverben launched its next transformative step through a joint collaboration with IDTR Pune and Workex, with Greenline Mobility Solutions (an Essar Group company) as the employment partner.
This partnership created a breakthrough opportunity for the trained women to drive LNG-fueled trailers along the Mumbai–Pune route, a pioneering move in clean fuel logistics. These roles offer a substantial income boost, providing earnings of up to ₹32,000 per month, along with safe accommodation and route-specific assignments that ensure structured, dignified, and well-supported employment.
Above and Beyond:
By gaining these specialized driving skills, women are stepping into industries that have long excluded them. This initiative does more than just improve their job opportunities—it helps shift deep-rooted beliefs about what roles women can and should play. It shows that with the right support and training, women can succeed in sectors like heavy commercial driving, which have traditionally been dominated by men.
This achievement is a powerful example of how focused efforts can open new, dignified livelihood options for women and make the transport and logistics sector more inclusive and gender-balanced.