WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT
WOMEN'S
GROUPS.
The women’s self help groups are key to community impact. We have created these groups so that women have an opportunity to stabilise their family’s finances, while having the support system they need. We train them in finances and accounts, in grooming and hygiene, in accessing banks and government schemes, and most importantly, about their rights. We have been actively trying to eradicate child marriage in these villages and are working to end wife beating.
OUR DRIVING SCHOOL.
Shishu Mandir Driving School has been at the forefront of empowering marginalized individuals by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities through training programs in driving. We offer car driving courses for men, women, and transgender individuals, along with specialized e-auto training programs exclusively for women and transgender candidates. Additionally, Mahindra Trio electric autos are provided to the most deserving participants. in 2024-25, we successfully trained a total of 267 candidates with a strong focus on women’s empowerment. A breakdown of the trainees is as follows: (i) Women trained: 165 (71.5%); (ii) Men Trained: 95 (26.2%); and (iii) Transgenders: 7 (2.3%).
1000th ADMISSION.
The admission of our 1000th trainee stands as a proud milestone in the journey of Shishu Mandir Driving School. It is not just a number, it represents the lives touched, the barriers broken, and the opportunities created for individuals from underserved communities. This landmark was marked by the story of Ms. Rajeswari Vijaykumar, whose resilience and determination embody the transformative power of our mission. Rajeswari hails from the village of Illupai in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. Following the loss of her father at the age of six, her mother relocated to Banaswadi in Bengaluru and began selling vegetables to support the family. Due to financial hardship, Rajeswari had to discontinue her education after the 7th standard. She was married at a young age to a man battling chronic alcoholism and has since endured years of emotional neglect, financial instability, and domestic hardship. Her husband is mostly absent, often returning only to take what little she has managed to earn. In the face of these challenges, Rajeswari continues to persevere. She supports her two young sons by working as a domestic helper in two households, earning a monthly income of ₹6,000. Her elder son, aged five, is enrolled in Upper Kindergarten through the support of a benevolent employer, while her younger child is just two years old. Her mother, still engaged in vegetable vending, remains a constant source of support. Rajeswari’s aspirations are simple yet profound: to provide her children with the education and opportunities she never had. Enrolling in Shishu Mandir Driving School marked a turning point in her life, a step toward financial independence and self-respect. By learning to drive an e-auto, she is not only gaining a livelihood skill but reclaiming her future. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder of why our work matters. Each admission is a life transformed, and Rajeswari’s story reflects the core values of empowerment, dignity, and hope that guide our work at Shishu Mandir.
E-AUTO
PROJECT.
In April 2022, we launched our E-Auto project. 5 electric autos were received from Atos Global IT Solutions in collaboration with Rotary. The autos were given to eligible women and transgenders who have been able to use it to earn a livelihood. It has been an extremely popular and significant project as the impact has been almost immediate. In addition to enabling higher income, it has given the women confidence and independence to support themselves and their families. As of 2025, 184 e-autos have been deployed.
CHANGING LIVES.
The e-auto initiative has brought remarkable social and economic transformation in the lives of its women drivers. Many who once struggled to afford education in private schools have now enrolled their children in English-medium institutions, confident in their ability to pay the fees. Half of the beneficiaries have upgraded from small, sheet-roof homes to larger RCC-roofed houses, while 15% have moved from rented to leased homes through the savings they have built—each lease requiring a minimum of ₹300,000 in Bengaluru. Their households are now comfortably furnished with essentials such as refrigerators, washing machines, gas stoves, beds, cots, and almirahs.
Collectively, the women have accumulated savings exceeding ₹7 million, which they pool to provide interest-free support to others burdened by high-interest debts. Free from debt themselves, they take pride in their financial independence and stability. The change has also brought a better work-life balance: they can now spend meaningful time with their families, drop and pick up their children from school, and enjoy a weekly day off—privileges they never had as domestic workers.
Their newfound respect and social recognition are deeply fulfilling. They now interact confidently with educated professionals, sharing tables with CEOs, IT specialists, and journalists in fine hotels—an experience unimaginable in their earlier lives. Beyond personal progress, they take pride in their environmental and social impact: each e-auto driven for a year offsets carbon emissions equivalent to planting 56 trees, and their presence on city roads enhances safety for women and girls travelling at odd hours. Many have also shared their contact numbers with pregnant women, old age homes, orphanages, and street vendors to provide emergency medical transport whenever needed—turning their livelihoods into a powerful vehicle for community change.
The driving school has also had a profound impact on the lives of men who trained there, empowering them with skills, knowledge, and new opportunities. Earlier, nearly 70% of these men were driving autos without valid licenses, which left them vulnerable—unable to claim insurance during accidents and constantly fearful of police action or fines. Through the training, they not only learned proper driving but also gained a clear understanding of traffic rules and regulations, allowing them to continue their profession confidently and lawfully.
The training has also opened new career pathways. About 10% of the trainees have become car drivers, leasing vehicles for passenger transport and earning higher, more stable incomes. Another 10% are automotive students from Shishu Mandir’s vocational training centre; obtaining valid licenses has allowed them to take up better-paying roles involving vehicle pickup, drop-off, and breakdown services—boosting their salaries by nearly 30% compared to those without licenses. Additionally, 5% of the trained men have purchased their own vehicles and now enjoy significantly improved earnings, while another 5% have transitioned from two-wheeler deliveries with companies like Swiggy and Zomato to four-wheelers, effectively doubling their monthly income.
Together, these changes reflect how formal training and licensing have not only improved livelihoods but also instilled dignity, safety, and long-term security in their profession.
