Priyanka Borole

Indian social entrepreneur empowering rural women through driver education

Breaking Barriers

Priyanka Borole founded Women on Wheels in 2021 with a mission to provide driving education to India's rural women. This initiative addresses both gender inequality and economic empowerment, with 70% of participants achieving financial independence within 18 months of training. The program now operates in 22 states and has trained over 85,000 women (source: 2024 Annual Report).

Innovative Training Model

Borole's approach includes:

• Mobile training vans equipped with VR simulators
• Community-based peer mentorship networks
• Government partnership for subsidized licenses

A 2023 study found program participants saw average income increases of 300%, with 40% starting their own transportation businesses.

Social Impact

In 2023, the initiative expanded to include:

• Electric vehicle training programs
• Childcare support during training
• Legal aid for traffic violation disputes

Notable success stories include:

• Rajeshwari from Maharashtra operating a 5-vehicle taxi fleet
• Geeta from Odisha running a driving school franchise

Policy Influence

Borole's advocacy led to 2022 amendments in India's Automobile Act reducing licensing fees for rural women by 60%. She was appointed to the NITI Aayog Gender Equality Task Force in 2024.

Global Recognition

Awarded the 2023 Women in Transport Prize, Borole's work is profiled in BBC's 100 Women series and the UN Women case study on economic empowerment.