New Delhi:
Delhi autowalas are not known for their courtesy. They drive like Schumacher, haggle rudely, and at times refuse to take passengers. And that is exactly why the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has roped in more than 5000 auto drivers for a three day training programme in spoken English, courtesy, and manners - all for the Commonwealth Games!
"If somebody comes to my auto, I will say welcome sir, please sit, where will you go?" says one autowala.
Akanksha Dureja, Spoken English Teacher says, "What is more enjoyable than anything else is their very spirit to learn, they say their kids know English, and now they can sit along with the kids to talk to them in English, maybe not so fluently, but just basic functional English."
The autowalas are not just being taught just basic functional English, but also basic functional behaviour! If yoga helped Kareena Kapoor lose weight, then its going to help these drivers shed all their stress and bad temper!
"We shouldn't refuse passengers, if we sit idly we wont earn much," says another auto rickshaw driver.
The training seems to be working, and it is also going to extend to hotel owners, shopkeepers, railway and airport staff.
Kuldip Verma, Senior Vice - President, ITDC Human Resource Development, says, "Any stakeholders who are coming in touch with tourists, or even general public are being given this training, so it's a great beginning and will go on beyond the commonwealth games."
How much Delhi will change after the 2010 Commonwealth Games is something that will need to be seen. The attitude and behaviour of cab drivers, auto rickshaw drivers, restaurant and dhaba owners will obviously not change overnight. But there's great enthusiasm about this project, and this is definitely a great start.
"If somebody comes to my auto, I will say welcome sir, please sit, where will you go?" says one autowala.
Akanksha Dureja, Spoken English Teacher says, "What is more enjoyable than anything else is their very spirit to learn, they say their kids know English, and now they can sit along with the kids to talk to them in English, maybe not so fluently, but just basic functional English."
The autowalas are not just being taught just basic functional English, but also basic functional behaviour! If yoga helped Kareena Kapoor lose weight, then its going to help these drivers shed all their stress and bad temper!
"We shouldn't refuse passengers, if we sit idly we wont earn much," says another auto rickshaw driver.
The training seems to be working, and it is also going to extend to hotel owners, shopkeepers, railway and airport staff.
Kuldip Verma, Senior Vice - President, ITDC Human Resource Development, says, "Any stakeholders who are coming in touch with tourists, or even general public are being given this training, so it's a great beginning and will go on beyond the commonwealth games."
How much Delhi will change after the 2010 Commonwealth Games is something that will need to be seen. The attitude and behaviour of cab drivers, auto rickshaw drivers, restaurant and dhaba owners will obviously not change overnight. But there's great enthusiasm about this project, and this is definitely a great start.
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