Staff Writer
Lucknow: Castrol India has rolled out mobile classrooms for truck drivers across Uttar Pradesh under its flagship social initiative ‘Sarathi Mitra’, aiming to take basic education and awareness directly to the trucking community along major highways.
The initiative, branded as “Highways as Classroom”, will see a specially designed learning truck travel to 46 locations across the state in its first phase. The mobile unit will conduct on-ground sessions for truck drivers on road safety, health and wellness, financial planning and digital literacy, areas that remain largely inaccessible to many in the sector.
Truck drivers form a critical link in India’s supply chain, but the profession is often marked by long hours, hazardous working conditions and limited access to formal education. Industry experts note that lack of awareness around safe driving practices, healthcare and money management often adds to their vulnerability on the road and at home.
Castrol said the mobile classroom model is designed to meet drivers where they work and rest, making learning more practical and accessible. Alongside safety and wellness modules, the sessions will focus on helping drivers better manage their income, plan for the future and use basic digital tools.
The programme is being complemented by Digital Sarathi Mitra, an online platform that allows truckers to access learning material and essential information at their convenience, even when they are on the move. The company said the digital push is intended to build a more inclusive and long-term support system for the community.
“Truck drivers are the backbone of our logistics ecosystem,” said Kedar Lele, Managing Director of Castrol India. “Through Sarathi Mitra, our effort is to support their overall development so that they drive safe and live safe. With Highways as Classroom and Digital Sarathi Mitra, we are making learning more inclusive, impactful and sustainable.”
Launched in 2017, the Sarathi Mitra programme has trained and supported over 2.5 lakh truck drivers across the country. With the Uttar Pradesh rollout, Castrol India said it is reaffirming its focus on community development alongside its core business, with an emphasis on safer roads, healthier drivers and stronger families.
