The Sarthini Scheme, a collaborative initiative between the State Bank of India’s Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) and the Transport Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, has emerged as a transformative platform for women empowerment. Conceived under the guidance of the Chief Secretary, the scheme offers free Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving training to women across the Union Territory, particularly those from poor and underprivileged backgrounds.
Launched to equip women with essential driving skills and self-employment opportunities, the programme also focuses on confidence-building, road safety, and basic entrepreneurship guidance. The initiative reflects a larger administrative vision of making women self-reliant while enhancing mobility in remote regions.
Since its inception, hundreds of women from urban centres and far-flung islands have joined the initiative with enthusiasm. The first batch of 34 women from Swaraj Dweep successfully completed their training, including entrepreneurial modules. The trainees not only learned practical driving but also vehicle maintenance, a skill crucial during emergencies. The scheme has gradually expanded its reach to Car Nicobar, Katchal, Champin, Pashchim Sagar, Tal Bagan, Ramnagar, and Hathilevel in Diglipur Tehsil, ensuring inclusivity across the islands.
In Mayabunder, the scheme was inaugurated in September with 32 participants, while Diglipur saw 30 women join in October. The growing participation has signaled a shift in local mindsets, with women stepping forward to learn driving, a skill once seen as inaccessible.
Beneficiaries have shared how the scheme has impacted their daily lives. Many now manage school transport, deliver goods, or support tourism services, generating additional income for their families. Arpita Roy from Swaraj Dweep, who received her driving licence after completing the course, expressed gratitude for the opportunity that allowed her newfound independence. Participants from Nicobar District and remote communities such as the Karen and Ranchi tribes have also benefited, demonstrating the scheme’s inclusivity.
Anjali from Champin Island joined the training to eventually start a travel agency, while Tanu from Katchal learned not just driving but also basic banking and financial literacy through RSETI’s integrated modules. In Sri Vijaya Puram Tehsil, beneficiaries like Rabina Khatun described how driving skills now enable them to manage household responsibilities, school commutes, and small business activities independently.
The scheme’s reach into tribal and remote regions underscores its transformative role. Many participants are now earning through eco-tourism ventures and school transport, indicating a gradual shift from dependency to entrepreneurship. For several women, the training marked their first step toward economic participation and self-confidence.
Officials from the Transport Department view the initiative as a milestone in promoting women-led development across the islands. SBI, as a key partner, has linked the scheme with its broader agenda of financial inclusion and community development. Together, they aim to establish more training centres and involve women from interior villages in future batches.
With its growing success, the Sarthini Scheme stands as a model of how institutional collaboration can drive social change. By equipping women with practical skills, it is not only enhancing livelihoods but also reshaping gender dynamics in mobility and employment across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
