Ahmedabad: World’s largest two wheeler manufacturing company, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today announced its biggest CSR initiative in India so far and provide 100% scholarship to 20 deserving young females becoming commercial pilots under the initiative named ‘Sapno Ki Udaan’.

Equal number of aspirants from four states in India where the Japanese origin company has its manufacturing plants ie Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka and Rajasthan, would be selected and given training and also assisted in getting employed as commercial pilots.

The company will spend around Rs 80 lakhs on each of them for the initiative which will start with selection of 5 such candidates from Gujarat.

The selection would take merit and income level into the consideration. Young women having scored more than 90% in Physics and Mathematics in class 12th science under State Education Board will be eligible to apply.

Further, the submitted applications would be screened based on different parameters including achievements in co-curricular activities. Finally, a written test, Medical test, Psychometric test, and a Technical assessment would be carried out to select 20 most deserving female candidates. The girls, proving their merit by qualifying the same, will thus get to avail special training course, supported by Honda. Candidates can apply online by submitting their documents (10th and 12th mark sheets, scanned copy of recent photograph, email id, and mobile number) on pilotadmission@teamleaseuniversity.ac.in. The application date starts tomorrow and closes on 10th August, he said.

The company has along with senior former IAF pilot officers roped in Captain Indraani Singh, Asia’s first woman pilot who flew Airbus 320 for the project.

In the last 5 years the company has spent Rs 132 crores on CSR activities focused on seven priority areas of women empowerment, road safety, education, health, rural sports, environment and community development.

On the occasion of the announcement, Harbhajan Singh, Director, General & Corporate Affairs, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd said, Many of the bright young women are not able to pursue their dreams due to lack of financial support. Under this unique initiative, Honda will provide 100% scholarship 20 deserving young females in becoming commercial pilots. We believe that these young women would not only get into a highly respectable profession but also inspire millions in realizing their power of dream.”

In India, percentage of women commercial pilots stands only around 12%. Encouraging young women to pursue a highly respected profession, Honda has invited all girls from Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Karnataka to apply in this initiative. Honda will provide 100% scholarship to 20 females for their dream of becoming a commercial pilot. Honda will bear the entire cost of training right from their selection to training period of 18 months in one of India’s leading flying school. Moreover, Honda will also assist them in getting a job as commercial pilot, he added.

The final 20 girls will be selected based on an exhaustive selection process. The selection would take merit and income level into the consideration. Young women having scored more than 90% in Physics and Mathematics in class 12th science under State Education Board will be eligible to apply.

DeshGujarat