Bridgestone India celebrated the winners of the 4th edition of its Mobility Social Impact Awards at a ceremony in Pune, attended by leaders from various industries and social sectors. These awards recognize innovative mobility solutions that enhance healthcare, education, livelihoods, nutrition, and social inclusion. A total prize pool of Rs. 30 lakhs was shared among winners across two categories.
The awards were divided into three sections: Accessible Mobility, Safe Mobility, and Smart Mobility. Accessible Mobility focuses on solutions improving access to essential services like healthcare, education, and livelihoods.
Safe Mobility encourages initiatives that promote road safety, reduce gender disparities in transportation, and mitigate disaster risks. Smart Mobility seeks to foster sustainable development and address social challenges such as poverty and biodiversity; however, no project qualified in this category this year.
KAM Foundation from Pune, Maharashtra, won the Accessible Mobility category for their “Sustainable livelihood in sanitation” project, which improved the working conditions and social standing of 50 unorganized sanitation workers by introducing mechanization and safety measures.
Anchalik Jana Seva Anusthan (AJSA) from Odisha took the top spot in the Safe Mobility category for their “Green Express” initiative, which introduced climate-resilient farming and electric vehicle carts to assist 3,500 tribal households, particularly benefiting women-led Self Help Groups (SHGs) by lowering transport costs and improving market access.
Kranti Shirur from Pune was the first runner-up in Accessible Mobility for their work supporting 2,460 survivors of gender-based violence, educating 2,000 children, and helping 7,695 beneficiaries access entitlements.
The second runner-up in Safe Mobility was the Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (CEFHA) Trust from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Their project “Empowering Adivasi Women through Mobility Skills” helped women engage in small-scale trade by providing training in auto-rickshaw driving.
Tata Steel Foundation from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, received special recognition for their “Masti Ki Pathshala” project, while the Association of People with Disability from Bangalore, Karnataka, was recognized for their “Rehab on Wheels” initiative, which brought rehabilitation services to people with disabilities in remote areas.
The jury for the awards included Sanjay Sasane, Principal of the Institute of Driver Training & Research (IDTR), Pune; Deepak Walokar, Former Director of Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune; and Smita Agarwal, Former Head of Education at Tata Steel CSR. Bridgestone India was represented by Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director; Ranu Kulshreshtha, Head of CSR; and Sudhir Kulkarni, Executive Director of HR & Admin.
Chief Guest Lina Kashyap, Professor Emeritus and former Deputy Director at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, presented the awards, with participants from corporate, NGO, and government sectors in attendance.
In 2013, the company expanded its presence by setting up another facility in Chakan, Pune. In 2023, the Indore plant marked a major milestone, producing its 100 millionth tyre. In just over 25 years, Bridgestone India has grown into a leading player in both the OEM and replacement tyre markets.
Globally, Bridgestone is a leader in tyres and rubber solutions, leveraging its expertise to drive safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company operates in more than 150 countries and employs around 130,000 people. Bridgestone’s portfolio includes premium tyres and advanced mobility solutions, underpinned by cutting-edge technologies that enhance the way people move, live, and work.
