Enhancing the skills and livelihood of self-employed rural artisans in India
The ‘Bosch Vaahan’ is a mobile van equipped with Power Tools ranging from cordless tools, woodworking tools, construction tools and metalworking tools catering to the needs of plumbers, electricians and self employed artisans. Suited to different applications like drilling, screwing, cutting, sawing, grinding, polishing etc., these tools are highly efficient, reliable and easy to handle. They can be used for light, medium or tough tasks, both indoors and outdoors.

The objective of the Vaahan is to reach talented artisans and empower them with Bosch Power Tools along with loans from major banks, supporting their endeavors further. Further the van includes a combination of product demonstrations in a demo area and bank personnel.

The Vaahan has traveled to south India, and is now touring northern parts of the country.

Vaahan journey
A clear market leader in the professional segment, the Bosch Power Tools division launched the Bosch Vaahan on April 12, 2006. In its first phase, the Vaahan traveled to 11 districts in Karnataka and 19 districts in Andhra Pradesh. Later, it covered 4 states of South India upgrading the skills and livelihood of more than 5000 artisans, disbursing loans worth Rs. 79 million from the banks.

Success in South India propelled expansion of the mobile van in North India on April 9, 2007. After reaching Delhi, the Vaahan journeyed towards northern Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu before returning to Delhi. The second phase is yet to cover Eastern and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Apart from the initial collaboration with Canara Bank and Andhra Bank, in the second phase Bosch tied up with 5 more banks that include Indian Overseas Bank, Indian Bank, UCO Bank, State Bank of Indore and Syndicate Bank.