DTMT Network

India’s largest commercial vehicle finance, Shriram Transport Finance Company (STFC)  has partnered with Skill India to train 1,000 drivers to ensure seamless and accident-free transportation of oxygen tankers, an official release by the company on January 17, 2022, stated.

STFC  launched the initiative under its CSR initiative Shriram Seva Sankalp and aims to offer the trainees a deep dive into the theory, hands-on practice on simulator, handling of hazardous cargo tanker and in-plant liquid medical oxygen loading and unloading along with all other safety precautions, the statement added.

The statement further added that oxygen shortage along with a shortage of drivers with capabilities to handle oxygen tankers was a major concern in the second wave of the pandemic in 2021. Therefore, to combat these challenges better in the current wave, STFC through its partner, DB Skills is working in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to upskill the drivers.

Under the programme over 500 drivers have already successfully completed their training in January 2022, and the company aims to certify the remaining 500 drivers by March 2022, it added.

Speaking about the initiative, Umesh Revankar, VC & MD, Shriram Transport Finance Company said, “Since the start of our CSR training program, over 10,000 candidates have been trained to drive heavy and light motor vehicles with ease. The need for skilled drivers to operate oxygen tankers was felt in 2021 owing to the acute shortage of oxygen in the country.”

“As India braces towards meeting challenges of the third wave of the pandemic, our endeavour is to once again provide continuous support to the society. Thus, we have stepped up to the opportunity and decided to work together with the government to avert a similar situation in the future,” he added.

The company has also organised a vaccination campaign for truck drivers in collaboration with TV9 Network and Apollo Hospitals recently. The month-long campaign initiated to vaccinate 6,000 drivers took place in transportation hubs in Chennai, Hyderabad, Nalagarh, Kolkata and Dharuhera, the statement added.