Truck drivers play a vital role in powering India’s economy, ensuring the smooth movement of goods across the nation. Yet, despite their essential contributions, their health and well-being often go unnoticed. To address this, HDB Financial Services (HDBFS) has taken a meaningful step with the Transport Aarogyam Kendra (TAK) initiative, dedicated to supporting the physical health of the trucking community.
In this exclusive interview, Ms. Shirley Thomas, Head of Human Resources at HDBFS, shares insights into the inspiration behind TAK, its impact, and the expansion of the program to new regions like Indore. She discusses how TAK is tailored to the specific needs of truck drivers, the evolution of the program since 2020, and how HDBFS is integrating healthcare, community outreach, and preventive care to make a lasting difference. The interview also highlights HDBFS’s broader CSR vision, including projects in skill development and natural resource management that are helping build a more sustainable and equitable society.
Read the conversation below to learn more:
Q. What inspired HDB Financial Services to launch the Transport Aarogyam Kendra (TAK) initiative, and how does it align with your broader CSR vision?
A. In 2020, HDB Financial Services (HDBFS) introduced the Transport Aarogyam Kendra (TAK) initiative in Delhi to address the pressing healthcare concerns of truck drivers. Often overlooked, these drivers are the backbone of the logistics sector, ensuring the seamless movement of goods, sustaining supply chains, and supporting business growth. Despite their indispensable role, truck drivers endure numerous hardships, including extended work hours, dangerous road conditions, and restricted access to medical care. These challenges not only impact their health but also threaten the overall efficiency of the economy.
The response to this program led to its strategic expansion to key transport hubs, including Kalamboli, Ludhiana, Namakkal, Ranchi, and Gandhidham. These centers collectively have served over 100,000 truck drivers pan India since the program launch, positively impacting lives of truck drivers across the country with innovative healthcare and community services. HDBFS broadened the reach of the program to key transport hubs, including Gandhidham, Ranchi, Ludhiana, Namakkal, Vijayawada, Kalamboli, and Indore. This holistic approach has fostered long-term well-being and enhanced the overall quality of life for truck drivers across the country.
Q. Truck drivers face unique health challenges due to their demanding jobs. How does TAK address these specific healthcare needs effectively?
A. Truck drivers frequently encounter serious health issues due to prolonged sitting, poor posture, and limited access to regular medical care, leading to musculoskeletal disorders, chronic back and leg pain, and other physical ailments. These challenges are further exacerbated by inadequate nutrition and erratic sleep schedules, resulting in long-term health risks. To address these concerns, Transport Aarogyam Kendra (TAK) clinics were established, providing accessible and free healthcare services tailored to the trucking industry. These clinics offer medical consultations, expert physiotherapy treatments, and preventive health awareness programs designed to support drivers’ well-being. Through these efforts, TAK strives to help truck drivers work safely and efficiently by managing pain, preventing chronic injuries, and fostering healthier lifestyles.
Q. Since the launch of TAK in 2020, how has the program evolved, and what key milestones have been achieved so far?
A. Since 2020, Transport Aarogyam Kendra (TAK) has grown from a single clinic in Delhi to eight centers across India, including the latest in Vijayawada, touching the lives of over one lakh truck drivers. Transport Aarogyam Kendra, has transformed healthcare access for India's highway heroes.
TAK's mobile camps traverse underserved regions, making healthcare accessible and bringing vital services to individuals in need. These camps strategically operate at parking sections and key hubs where truck drivers gather, ensuring support reaches these essential workers directly. Static centers serve as dependable hubs, providing consistent care and creating a strong sense of community. Meanwhile, monthly outreach programs expand TAK's mission further, delivering specialized assistance and raising awareness about critical issues. Together, these initiatives form a robust network of compassion and support, championing dignity and healing for those who keep India moving
Q. Indore’s TAK center is the first in Madhya Pradesh. How did you identify Indore as the next location, and what impact do you foresee for the trucking community there?
A. Due to its substantial truck driver population and high commercial vehicle traffic density, Indore, a key transportation hub in Madhya Pradesh, was selected. Factors such as accessibility, demand for medical support, and the presence of trucker rest stops were considered in the decision. The TAK center in Indore aims to enhance truckers’ overall well-being by providing preventive and rehabilitative healthcare, helping them manage work-related health challenges.
Q.HDBFS has been actively working in key CSR areas like Skill Development and Natural Resource Management. Can you share some impactful projects in these domains and their outcomes?
A. HDB Financial Services has been making a significant ecological and social impact through its innovative CSR initiatives in Natural Resource Management. The Mission Million Trees program, launched in 2019, has already planted over 359,000 saplings and trees, boosting urban green cover and enhancing the environment. By providing fruit-bearing trees to small and marginal farmers, the program not only supports livelihoods but also helps mitigate soil erosion and improves groundwater recharge. These efforts directly contribute to fostering ecological balance and promoting sustainable living in urban and rural communities.
Additionally, HDB's watershed management programs in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka have addressed critical water challenges by promoting rainwater conservation and sustainable water usage. Over 10 urban and 75 rural waterbodies have been revived since 2017, ensuring improved water accessibility and recharged groundwater levels. These initiatives, driven by active community participation and collaboration with credible organizations, have empowered local communities and reinforced HDB's commitment to both environmental restoration and the well-being of society.
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