Maruti Suzuki understands the importance of making Indian roads safer. That is why, the company runs a nationwide road safety programme to promote safe driving habits via various initiatives. The two most important initiatives among these are:

Institutes of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTRs):

These institutes, spread over almost 10 acres each, work in close association with a number of state governments. The main focus of the IDTRs is to train passenger and commercial vehicle drivers with the help of world-class training infrastructure and qualified trainers. The use of scientifically designed training tracks and simulators keep the training environment in these IDTRs very close to the experience of actually driving on Indian roads. Over the years, IDTR have built a reputation of being among the finest driving and road safety training facilities in India.

Maruti Driving Schools (MDSs):

Established in partnership with authorised Maruti dealers, the 417 MDSs aim at nurturing a safe driving culture through special theoretical sessions, test tracks, and driving classes on the road. These schools are credited with having introduced advanced driving training simulators for better judgement, and also with familiarising drivers with the concept of route maps for a more holistic on-road practice.
Apart from Institutes of Driving and Traffic Research and Maruti Driving Schools, the company also has several other initiatives such as Train the Trainer Programme, Road Safety for Truck Drivers and various city specific road safety programmes which focus on addressing the issue of road safety. The Road Safety Knowledge Centres (RSKCs) were established in partnership with the Haryana Traffic Police. Managed by the IDTR, the seven RSKCs together train the traffic violators and learner license applicants.
The company signed an MoU with the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation in 2013-2014 under which it has trained over 92000 existing and new young drivers from the economically weaker sections of India’s minority communities between 2014 and 2017.
To ensure that the drivers transporting Maruti Suzuki vehicles follow the best driving practices, the company offers them road safety training. Under Jagriti programme, star commercial vehicle drivers who transport Maruti Suzuki vehicles are rewarded for having an excellent track record of damage-free and timely delivery of cars.
Training millions of new and existing drivers, Maruti Suzuki continuously strives to make Indian roads safer with the help of these initiatives.

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With more than half of its total economic output coming from the service sector alone, maintaining and constantly expanding the size of its skilled labour force is imperative for India. Keeping this in mind, Maruti Suzuki has partnered with a number of state governments to adopt several Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). With this initiative, the company aims to make a large section of the youth employable by the automobile industry.

Maruti Suzuki's Skill Development programme consists of three key elements:

Upgradation of Government ITIs:

In partnership with state governments, the Company is adopting ITIs and through its various interventions upgrading physical infrastructure and workshops, training faculty, and providing exposure to students on Japanese shop floor practices

Skill Enhancement in Automobile Trade:

To help workers adapt to the changing demands of the industry, the Company has set up Automobile Skill Enhancement Centres (ASEC) at 60 ITIs. Each of these centres is equipped with a model workshop on which practical training is imparted by full time trainers provided by the Company.

Japan India Institute for Manufacturing:

In 2016-17, the Governments of Japan and India signed an agreement to create a pool of skilled manpower for manufacturing in India. To translate the vision of this partnership, the Company embarked on setting up the first Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) at AS Patel (Pvt.) ITI, in Ganpat University, Mehsana, Gujarat.
Upgradation of Government ITIs consists of the following:

Faculty Development:

Maruti Suzuki works in close association with the faculty at the ITIs to improve teaching skills and methodologies. Working on varied aspects of faculty skill development, such as behaviour, work culture, and teaching techniques, the company assists the teachers in preparing students for the growing demands of the automobile industry.

Student Development:

Under this arm of the skill development initiative, students are tutored by Maruti Suzuki trainers in areas related to car service, repair, and maintenance. This is independent of their regular curriculum at the ITIs. To further the company’s holistic approach, students are also trained in various soft skills such as discipline, personal grooming, and interpersonal communication skills.

Industry Connect:

Maruti Suzuki also arranges for industrial outreach programmes where experts from the automobile industry are brought in as guest speakers to the ITIs. These interactions with the experts not only help the students get industry-specific training, but they also enable them to upgrade their skills. Apart from this, the company often invites students and faculty for factory visits so they can familiarise themselves further with the demands of an industrial environment.
The Skill Development initiative is working closely with 141 ITIs across 27 Indian states as of 31st March 2017.

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Maruti Suzuki believes that to truly help someone, it is necessary to first understand his or her needs. Therefore, before undertaking any new CSR initiative, the company conducts a Need Assessment Survey to understand the areas where a community might require support and improvement. It is on the basis of the results of these surveys, that the company launches projects in various sectors of community development, such as education, water and sanitation, health care, and rural development.

Education:

With its community development programmes that focus on education, the company aims at improving the infrastructure and learning conditions in government schools across the country. It seeks to do so by constructing toilets, boundary walls, and pavements in schools, by arranging for basic facilities like clean drinking water, and by providing and repairing electrical fittings like lights and fans.
Apart from providing infrastructural support, Maruti Suzuki also awards scholarships to meritorious students from underprivileged and economically weaker communities. This not only encourages other students to work harder, but also goes a long way in improving the overall academic performance of these schools.

Water and Sanitation:

Maruti Suzuki’s water and sanitation initiatives started in 2013-2014 with the aim of improving personal hygiene, sanitation facilities, and public cleanliness conditions in the country. One of the main thrusts of this initiative is to educate people about the importance of hygiene through street plays and the distribution of communication literature.
Combining infrastructural improvement and public education drives to this end, the company has provided 13 villages with 100% household toilet coverage.

Health Care:

Maruti Suzuki has been regularly assessing community health care needs, and has undertaken various projects to provide better facilities.We have also donated four EECO Ambulances to the Civil Hospital in Gurgaon.

Rural Infrastructure:

Maruti Suzuki regularly undertakes initiatives to upgrade shared community facilities such as parks, cremation grounds, playgrounds, and community halls, in the villages around its Manesar facility.

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At the heart of Maruti Suzuki’s success story is its people. With a firm belief in each employee’s potential to contribute to the growth and improvement of society, Maruti Suzuki started its employee volunteering programme.
This initiative provides volunteering opportunities in areas such as education, health care, public cleanliness, sanitation, old age support systems, and others. Under this programme, all new hires undergo a small CSR training during their induction. They are encouraged to participate in the various volunteering activities that the company runs.
It is the enthusiastic participation of its people that has helped Maruti Suzuki improve the quality of life for everyone. Over the years, thousands of Maruti employees have contributed hundreds of thousands of volunteering hours under the e-Parivartan programme. However, it is not numbers and statistics that Maruti Suzuki focusses on. Rather, it is the quality of the contribution made, and the change brought about that the company wants to keep in its sights.