News & Events
USTM Launches
Driving School for Women

GUWAHATI, 8 March, 2018: On the
occasion of International Women’s Day, a driving school for
women has been launched today by the University of Science &
Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) as a part of its community college
initiative. Named “USTM Women’s Driving School: An Outreach
Initiative of ERDF”, the initiative aims at empowering women,
especially those who are economically weak, school dropouts,
widows, single mothers and the like by enabling them to earn a
living by taking driving as a profession. Open for all women,
the course will include both practical, theory and personality
development classes. The ceremonial launch at USTM was honoured
by Prof. Jeane W Anastas from Silver School of Social Work, New
York University, Prof Yasmin Saikia and Dr Chad Haines from
Arizona State University, USA, and Guwahati-based entrepreneur
Meghali Bora.
“With the view of women empowerment on the International Women’s
Day, the programme begins from today with enrollment of
students. Along with others, our faculty members and students
who are willing can also avail this course. We are recruiting
efficient lady instructors for the training”, said Mahbubul
Hoque, Chancellor of USTM and Chairman of ERD Foundation,
Guwahati. He said that Meghali Bora, who is the Managing
Director of a city based driving institute, will be the Director
of the school at USTM.
Meghali Bora, Director of the driving school, said that a
driving course from USTM will add significance to the course and
this is a bold initiative taken for the first time by a
University in the region. “We are keeping minimum age of joining
the school as 18. It is an appeal from USTM and its parent
orgaisation ERDF to all who want to recruit a woman driver to
contact us after completion of course of the first batch”, she
said. Apart from driving, the course will also include training
on minimum skills such as changing a tire, etc.
The course offered by USTM includes five stages. There will be
orientation classes for 3 to 5 days that will be followed by
hands on practical lessons by female trainers for 10 days. This
will be followed by 10 days’ training on communication skill,
ethics and professionalism. Then there will be practical test of
200 marks and then exams of 100 marks will be taken. After the
exams, USTM will also arrange Internship for the students for 10
days after which certificates will be awarded. The University
will also help the students in placement with women employers.
Classes will begin from 15 March 2018.
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