On the day Narendra Modi crossed our path in Maharashtra, lot of things happened.
Text of OMG! What did Supply Chain Czar Sushil Cherian say?
You DoNT Commit murDer ONLY accident!
It is a sheer coincidence that the BJP Prime Ministerial
Candidate Narendra Modi and I happen to hit the Kalyan belt on the
same day (21 April 2014). Our objectives were same in a way; also
different in another way. NaMo was expected to canvas votes for his
party candidate from that constituency. On the other hand, I was to
canvass with truck drivers to dress properly and thus move up the
value chain in terms of getting greater acceptance from the white
collar babus whom these soldiers on Indian highways serve without
realizing their stellar role! Commonality between NaMo and my
campaign was or is: kalyan jana kalyan (society welfare!)
Its childs play to script a plan or program. Execution is lot
more tougher. Having scripted the Mumbai-Pune Road Trip more than a
month ago in the cool climes of Delhi home with the idea of
donating soft pillows to truck drives to enable them sleep better
in their trucks, the logistics of procurement, storage and
distribution challenged immensely. Solutions have to be local to
keep cost manageable. Thats where Lalitha Sundaresan, family friend
based out of Mumbai, threw her weight around. She coordinated the
pillow buy of 100 plus in Mumbai. Tks, Lalitha-ji!
My 21000 KM odyssey with truck drivers (2010-12) gave a glimpse
of their dietary patterns. They dont eat well. And not the right
food. Tea they gulp in gallons. Tobacco items (gutkha, mostly)
consumes a lot of their disposable income. Why not digestive jal
jeera? Why not scented elaichi? Luckily these healthy items are
available on roadside shops like these and hawked cheaper than
their preference. So, I stopped and stocked a few 100 pouches for
my driver mates from this +2 Babloo on Kalyan naka under the gaze
of NaMo hoarding.
Next halt: this pharmacy at Kalyan naka while we waited for
Vijay Patil, a local NGO (Sambhav Foundation) chief, to join us.
The shopping list consisted of shaving kit: blades, gel and some
lozenges to soothen sore throats. Some shampoo pouches too. What
for? One of the issues that bug these truck drivers is that they
are NOT respected by anyone. My prescription for this low self
esteem is dress properly & command respect. Why this beggary
appearance always? Shave first. Dress washed and ironed cloth, if
possible. Change yourself first before changing others.
Meet Dr Vijay Pawar. No, he is not a practising physician,
though he did specialise in ayurvedic medicines to become a doktor.
Somehow this suave and soft spoken Marathi manoos got sucked into
social sphere to pursue jana kalyan as a career option. Today, he
is Deputy Manager- Corporate Social Responsibility @ Mahindra
Logistics, my main partner in ameliorating the lifestyle of truck
drivers. Vijay is instrumental in this weeklong Mumbai-Pune Road
Trip and of course, he is my co-traveler. Together we had done over
1,000 km past year in long trips. Drivers, both of us genuinely
feel, are one of us. Our driver Pande from UP (inset) lunches with
us at the same table en route sharing the same food we all
eat.
First things, first. Get the banner fixed at the entrance of
Mahindra Logistics, Bhiwandi warehouse. Helping hands galore.
Dr Vijay Pawar engages Sushil Cherian, Partner, Anantara
Solutions, (extreme left) while truck drivers troop in for the 90
minute long session on understanding highway signs before walking
away with soft pillows and some snacks. And a lot of fun, involving
them!
Pillows are stacked. Will it be sufficient? Not everyone is
going to get it. Some have to go back empty handed. This is not a
school where one has to ensure every kid gets his/her toffee.
Tension grips the assembled truck drivers because they mentally do
the pillow count and their own strength in the spacious hall where
they are seated. Theres a demand-supply gap!
After a minute long silent prayer/homage to all departed souls
of truck drivers while on duty, host Sanjay Ranadive of Mahindra
Logistics welcomes the gathering of truck drivers, colleagues and
us. By the way, the theme song sung by Sonali Mohapatra, conceived
by Siddhi Vinayak Logistics when they started National Drivers Day
September 17 last year has been on the loop right from the moment
we walked in setting up the stage etc.
Uday Kulkarni of Mahindra Logistics the man in charge of the
state-of-the-art warehouse at Bhiwandi impresses upon the audience
the need for better dressing and safety concerns: wear safety belt,
drive on the left side. Realize the important role you all play.
Stop sulking, advises he to the attentive audience.
I believe in L-Cube: Life Long Learning. Hearing portly Sushil
Cherian of Anantara Solutions (advisors on supply chain and
logistics to several companies) is really educative. He throws a
bombshell: Youre like God, he tells the truck driver audience. How?
When someone is knocked off/killed on highways by you (truck
drivers), police dont call it murder but accident. That is the kind
of responsibility the State has bestowed on them. So they have to
act responsibly. Only God enjoys that privilege! says a cheeky
Cherian!
NGO man Patil does not miss the opportunity to cajole drivers
on the need to understand highway signs. When you drive safely,
youre not only saving your lives, but others as well.
When white collar guys like you and I can indulge in a bit of
fun at regular get togethers sponsored by management why not these
men who ensure we lead normal life on a daily basis have some
entertainment? Blow the balloon till it bursts is the name of the
game. They enjoy immensely. Engage them. After all, they are also
humans like you and I.
My name is so-and-so. I am a DRIVER Well, each driver when
called onto receive pillows chosen by drivers themselves by
rotation is asked to proclaim LOUDLY this statement. Hum kissi se
kam nahi (We are not inferior to anyone), is preached! They are
told to get out of low self-esteem. Proper dressing in a way boosts
self confidence.
Drivers are encouraged to open up and voice their concerns with
the management whom they serve. This young driver takes the floor
to share his grievances. Dont bottle up your feelings. Let the
other party hear you out. Two way communication is essential.
They smilingly accept that everyone cannot be a winner. Some
walk out with soft pillows. Others, empty-handed. Thats life. As
the program began with one minute homage to departed souls of truck
drivers while on duty, the function ends with National Anthem. Jai
ho!
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IMPROVING Truck Drivers Working & Living Conditions
