New Delhi, India: Ride-sharing platform Rapido has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO), a placement arm of the Indian Army under the Ministry of Defence.
Through this collaboration, Rapido will onboard Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), and Other Ranks (ORs) into key regional leadership positions as Driver Supply Leads. The MoU was signed at Army Welfare Placement Organisation, Head Quarters, New Delhi, in the presence of Major General, Ajay Chauhan, Managing Director, Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO) and Cornel KH Uppal.
This initiative aims to promote livelihood and inclusion in the country. This effort recognises veterans as valuable contributors to India’s evolving economy, utilizing their leadership and community influence, and empowering them as leaders.
They will be responsible for identifying, counselling, and onboarding local youth from rural and semi-urban regions supporting Rapido’s goal of building a grassroots workforce. This collaboration serves as a key milestone in creating structured, full-time employment for Indian Army veterans, while strengthening Rapido’s regional driver supply network.
Speaking on the occasion, Rizwan Shaikh, Vice President, Customer Service Delivery (CSD) and Supply, Rapido, said “Rapido’s goal is to be the largest livelihood creator in the country. This association with the Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO) is a key milestone in achieving our vision. We are empowering veterans to apply their leadership skills, discipline, and resilience in a different setting. We are enabling them to take on regional responsibilities while also strengthening our network across India.”
Major General, Ajay Chauhan, Managing Director, AWPO, added: “This collaboration with Rapido is a step towards structured, long-term employment for our veterans. It aligns with AWPO’s focus on connecting trained, reliable personnel with industries that value discipline and operational excellence.”
The initiative will launch with a pilot across select districts, engaging 10–15 veterans over a 60-day period. Following this, Rapido plans to scale the program across 100+ locations within six months.
Key Highlights of the Partnership
Employment for Veterans:
Full-time employment for Ex-Servicemen in their native districts or nearby towns, offering a stable income
Structured career progression with opportunities to advance into Area Manager roles.
Role of Ex-Servicemen:
Serve as trusted community ambassadors, ensuring local trust and continuity of supply.
Coordinate with Rapido’s city operations teams for migration, training, and deployment of driver partners.
Maintain databases and manage outreach and conversion processes.
Nationwide Deployment:
Focus on high-potential districts such as Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Patna, Jabalpur, Amritsar, Nashik, and select towns in the Northeast, among others.
This partnership aligns with Rapido’s goal of enabling meaningful second careers for veterans while meeting talent needs in the mobility space. It reflects Rapido’s continued focus on scale, inclusion, and responsible growth.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.