Punjab Police and Hartek Foundation Sign MoU to Advance Gender-Responsive Road Safety SAAHAS Fellowship Launched as First Initiative under the Partnership

Mumbai, 20^th May 2025: In a landmark move toward inclusive and sustainable mobility, the Traffic and Road Safety Wing of Punjab Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hartek Foundation today, establishing a collaborative framework aimed at advancing road safety through a gender-responsive and data-driven approach. Additionally, this partnership shall support R&D on enhancing the visibility and safety of the traffic officials on the road through solar powered infrastructure like traffic aid posts, halting stations, solar helmets etc.

The MoU reflects a shared commitment to strengthening road safety systems by collecting and utilizing sex- and age-disaggregated data, addressing gender disparities in transport infrastructure, and creating safer, more accessible public spaces. It also envisions increasing the participation of women in both decision-making and operational roles in the transport and public safety sectors.

The first initiative under this MoU is the launch of the Punjab Police–Hartek Foundation Fellowship “SAAHAS” (Safe Access and Advancement for Her through Awareness and Sustainability). This pioneering fellowship—India’s first of its kind initiated by a Police Department—will be implemented through the Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre. It aims to support research, innovation, and on-ground interventions that promote gender-equitable mobility solutions in alignment with SDG 3, 9, and 11.

Shri A.S. Rai, IPS, ADGP (Traffic and Road Safety), Punjab, stated, “The SAAHAS Fellowship is a bold step toward building inclusive and sustainable road safety systems. This is just the beginning—many more initiatives will emerge under this partnership to reshape the future of mobility in Punjab.”

Ms. Harkirat Kaur, CEO, Hartek Foundation, added, “This fellowship reflects our deep alignment with Punjab Police in promoting equity, safety, and sustainability for all.”

Dr. Navdeep Asija, Director, Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre, and Mr. Simarpreet Singh, Executive Director & CEO, Hartek Group, called the initiative a trailblazer—bringing together public institutions and industry to address evolving safety and transport challenges.

Shri Gaurav Yadav, IPS, Director General of Police, Punjab, emphasized, “Bringing gender inclusiveness into policing, particularly traffic and road safety is a core priority. The launch of the Sadak Surakhiya Force with 33% women personnel was a foundational step. With the SAAHAS Fellowship, we are moving forward to institutionalize gender equity in road safety systems and beyond.”

The MoU and the launch of the SAAHAS Fellowship mark the beginning of a transformative journey, with many more progressive and inclusive initiatives expected to follow.