The traffic police, along with IIJT, has begun a series of soft skills training sessions for autorickshaw drivers.
Although there a number of good autorickshaw drivers in the city, because of a few rotten eggs, the notion among the public is that most drivers are rude, impolite and arrogant. In an effort to change that ‘image,’ the Bangalore City Traffic Police, along with the Indian Institute of Job Training (IIJT), has begun a series of soft skills training sessions for auto drivers.
The first session of the training saw 45 drivers from Malleswaram, Mathikere, Rajajinagar, West of Chord Road, Sriramnagar and Dasarahalli participating in an interactive learning session at the IIJT in Malleswaram on Sunday.
Inspector S Shashikala said: “We get several complaints about auto drivers being rude, impolite, demanding excess fares and refusing to go to certain places. We decided to hold this training session to help them realise what they were doing is wrong. We will, instead, focus on the right approach.”
“Auto drivers are not essentially mean or arrogant,” said Shajan Samuel, divisional head, IIJT.
“Most negative responses are situational. But the commuter often carries them back and a general impression is formed that auto drivers are bad. By imparting soft skills, we hope they will be able to react differently and in a more positive manner, even if the fault is not theirs,” he said.
Ram Krishna, an auto driver based in Rajajinagar, said: “I was asked to come here by the traffic police. Although I came reluctantly, I don’t regret it now. A lot of what they said makes sense. But when a situation arises, we have no control over it. This session has helped us understand how to react to a situation differently and positively.”
MA Saleem, additional commissioner of police, traffic and security, said: “The mode of public transport in our city is limited to the BMTC and autos, unlike other cities where there are multiple modes of transport. Although the Metro is available now, it will take some time before it can reach other parts of the city. As such, commuters are often dependent on auto drivers, and it is important that they have a good experience, so that they are comfortable leaving their private vehicles at home.”
IIJT plans to hold a number of such sessions over a sustained period to ensure that they reach a substantial
number of autorickshaw drivers to bring about a change.
“We will begin with these sessions in other places, beginning with MG Road and Jayanagar. To reinforce the message, our trainers will also be working with the drivers individually on their trips to see what they can do differently.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}