On October 21, Nilesh Dnyaneshwar Sawant, a driver employed by one of many contractors that function buses for PMPML, was arrested after a video displaying him recklessly reversing his PMPML bus on Senapati Bapat Road because the passenger shouted for assist was extensively shared on the web.

Following the incident, questions have been raised concerning the psychological well being points among the many PMPML drivers.

Many have been reminded of the 2013 case of state transport driver Santosh Mane who had, in an alleged match of rage, killed 9 individuals on Pune streets by recklessly driving the bus.

PMPML officers have now determined to offer psychological assist to its employees and have introduced plans to conduct common psychological workshops.
These workshops goal to offer anger and stress administration lessons, together with educating workers concerning the uncomfortable side effects of drug habit.

The PMPML officers had earlier claimed that the authority conducts common driving workshops and motivational camps aimed toward enhancing interpersonal abilities and enhancing the emotional well-being of drivers and conductors.

However, this marks the primary time that PMPML is incorporating phrases equivalent to “mental health”, “mental well-being”, “stress management”, “aggression”, and “emotional balance” into its initiatives.

PMPML spokesperson Satish Gate talked about that the session was devoted to the psychological well-being of drivers, conductors, and administrative employees.

The workshop is slated to increase to all metropolis depots following the Diwali pageant.

He stated, “The session was focused on controlling aggression while working, managing family and social relationships, and maintaining a balance between home and work responsibilities.”

PMPML normally prioritizes coaching technical abilities over addressing stress administration and has proven much less curiosity in psychological considerations of drivers and conductors.

Ashok Sable, the Assistant Deputy Manager of the Emergency Department at PMPML, talked about that PMPML is constantly conducting workshops with the assistance of two skilled trainers to deal with the unintended instances.

He stated that together with the technical coaching, PMPML may also give attention to psychological and emotional nicely being of the employees.

He stated, “We have successfully completed training for 1,100 drivers across nine depots, starting from July 28 this year, and this training will continue for the next few months.”

According to official data, Katraj and Swargate depots every have 152 educated drivers, Natawadi has 151, Pimpri depot has 145, the higher depot has 133, Hadapsar has 130, Kothrud has 113, Bhosari depot has 80, and Shewalewadi has 44 educated drivers.

The PMPML workshop takes place within the coaching corridor on the PMPML headquarter.

Each day, three drivers from each depot attend the coaching workshop.

The workshop schedule runs from 10 am to six pm. It begins with a lecture class from 10 to 11 am, adopted by trainers guiding them on a apply drive till the night.

Talking concerning the well being points, Gate stated that every depot conducts bodily check-ups twice a month, together with measurements like blood strain and sugar ranges. Numerous hospitals additionally proactively strategy PMPML, providing free well being check-ups that embody all the things from oral well being to eye and heart-related points.

He stated that in 2022, following the Covid-19 pandemic, they held an interactive workshop for roughly 6,000 drivers and conductors.

The workshop was performed on the Annabhau Sathe Auditorium in Satara in partnership with the RTO and Traffic division