FICCI-FLO launches WE'

Ensuring the safety of women and children whilst generating newer employment opportunities for women, was the motive with which the Women’s Wing of FICCI a.k.a. FLO launched “WE in Education”, an initiative towards empowering and skilling women for jobs in schools.  

“WE in Education”, is aimed at training women for school jobs: as  Security Guards, Canteen Staff, Bus Conductors, Bus Drivers and administrative posts.  The program has various training agencies like Maruti Driving School and ASTM Security on board who will ready the women for these jobs. This unique initiative was launched in the presence of the Chief Guest Ms Amruta Fadnavis, Deputy Vice President of Transaction Banking – Corporate, Axis Bank and the wife of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis. 

The other dignitaries included Ms Sonia Sethi, Transport Commissioner and Ms Indu Shahani, Ex-Sheriff of Mumbai and Principal of H.R College. Other stakeholders who would contribute towards the success of this program were also present: school owners and principals of leading schools in Mumbai; NGO partners who will mobilise girls for training; Security Companies who will train them as security guards; and Bus contractors and other service providers for schools.

Speaking at the occasion, Ms Falguni Padode , Chairperson, FLO Mumbai Chapter said, “FLO is in a unique position to effect real change – that of increasing women employment in schools leading to a win-win situation for all; employment opportunities for women in a safe environment and greater safety for our children in schools and on school buses. With our training partners on board, FLO with its 14 locations can potentially facilitate and catalyze the training of women for millions of school jobs.”

Lauding the initiative, Ms. Amruta Fadnavis (Deputy Vice President of Transaction Banking – Corporate, Axis Bank) said, “To bridge the gender disparity gap in our country, we need to strengthen the systems and processes that facilitate women in taking control and  claiming ownership of their lives. To lend true meaning to ‘Empowerment of Women’ we have to expand their freedom of choices.

I welcome FICCI-FLOs initiative in skilling women in non-traditional jobs, where women are dramatically under-represented, where employment opportunities are plentiful and wages are also good.”
The program held at ITC Grand Central, saw a full house of enthusiastic members and supporters and culminated dramatically with the signing of a pledge by all the dignitaries and the stakeholders, sealing their commitment  to collectively make it work. 

​Image_1 : Ms Indu Shahani, Ex-Sheriff of Mumbai and Principal of H.R College , Ms. Amruta Fadnavis Deputy Vice President of Transaction Banking – Corporate, Axis Bank , Ms Falguni Padode , Chairperson, FLO Mumbai Chapter and Ms Sonia Sethi, Transport Commissioner at​at the launch of “WE” – Women Employment in Education