BENGALURU: Cab hailing app Uber on Saturday signed an MoU with the state government to provide soft skills training to drivers from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) communities who purchase cabs at subsidised prices under the Airavatha scheme Uber is joining hands with Dr BR Ambedkar Development Corporation of the social welfare department to encourage micro-entrepreneurship among the marginalised communities. Under this programme, the state government will provide a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to 1,000 drivers from the SC/ST communities.“Uber will encourage beneficiaries to register as drivers on the app, train them and provide access to entrepreneurial opportunities and viable earnings. Uber will assist the government in identifying eligible candidates from the SC/ST community in Bengaluru and neighbouring districts and encourage them to take advantage of this scheme. Beneficiaries will also be provided with the necessary assistance to avail any additional loans from financial institutions,” a press release stated.Dr G Parameshwara, deputy chief minister and city development minister, said these are the kind of schemes that would ensure job creation and boost economic development.Social welfare minister Priyank Kharge said. “With Uber, we will ensure economic opportunities and income levels improve in tier 2 and 3 tier cities. This will, we hope, improve the standard of living for these families and the communities. We will take every effort to realise the potential and ambitions of our young people.”Pradeep Parameswaran, president, Uber India & South Asia, said, “As a multi-modal platform, we believe that technology holds the key to creating millions of economic opportunities while solving mobility, security and congestion issues.”

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