Empowering Women through Cycles Hero Cycles Partners Leading Global Women’s Organization Innerwheel to Distribute Cycles to Marginalized Women

·         Over 250 cycles distributed to women and young girls from poor socio economic backgrounds to help open up more opportunities for them

·         National Representative of Innerwheel India Ms. Mamta Gupta presided over the event

Noida, July 12, 2019: Global bicycle giant Hero Cycles has tied up with leading women’s organization Inner Wheel India to make bicycles available to a large number of women from poor socio economic backgrounds, in an effort to empower them socially and open more educational or economic opportunities for them.

As part of the initiative, as many as 264 Hero Empress cycles were distributed to women and young girls from marginalized backgrounds who stand to benefit from the increased mobility and independence owning a bicycle provides. The event called "TAAL" was organized at the Gaur International School, Greater Noida in the presence of National Representative of Innerwheel India Ms. Mamta Gupta. 

“There is enough evidence that owning a bicycle empowers women significantly. We have seen how making cycles available to girls helped Bihar reduce its female dropout rates in schools while empowering them significantly. Owning a bicycle gives girls a faster alternative to walking and a cheaper alternative to public transport. This allows them greater freedom to move and helps them reach their destinations (schools/workplaces) faster. We are very happy to have partnered in this unique endeavor by Inner Wheel,” says Mr. Pankaj M Munjal, Chairman & Managing Director, HMC, a Hero Motors Company. 

Innerwheel is the largest all-women organizations represented in 109 countries. Inner Wheel India focuses heavily on rural outreach programs to help raise the standard of living for women in backward villages in the periphery of Delhi/NCR.

“Inner Wheel is not merely an organization, it is a group of women united by sisterhood across boundaries. Through our rural outreach programs, we aim to bring about a positive difference in the lives of women from poor socio economic backgrounds. For a lot of such women, owning a bicycle can make a dramatic difference in their daily lives. Not only does it open new work opportunities for them by giving them an easy mode of transport but also allow them to be safe from harassment faced on the roads and boost their self confidence & esteem,” said Ms. Mamta Gupta, National Representative of Innerwheel India.

About HMC

The HMC Group with a $ 1.2 bn asset base and over 10,000 people across the globe comprises of the bicycle giant Hero Cycles, Auto parts manufacturing companies - Hero Motors, ZF Hero Chassis Systems Pvt. Ltd, and Munjal Kiriu Industries Pvt. Ltd, hospitality arm Munjal Hospitality and luxury home décor products company Oma Living.

Incorporated in 1956, Hero Cycles Limited is the largest cycle manufacturer in the world. The company has a manufacturing capacity of 7.5 million bicycles per year, with its unit in Ludhiana (Punjab), Bihta (Bihar) & Ghaziabad (UP). The company has a highly integrated plant in Ludhiana Ghaziabad (UP) and Bihta (Bihar) and a state of art manufacturing facility is Sri Lanka as well. The Ghaziabad facility also manufactures automotive rims and various other auto components for global automotive giants. In addition to the aforesaid the group also owns UK-based Avocet Sports and FireFox Bikes in India. While Avocet Sports was Hero Cycles’ first overseas acquisition and marked the company’s entry into mass segment of European bicycle market, the acquisition of Firefox Bikes was a strategic move to cement its position in the fast-growing premium bicycling segment in India.

Hero Cycles is a leader in both the standard and special bicycle segments in India, with an overall market share of about 35 per cent. The company is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and the most modern machinery. A nation-wide distribution network with over 3000 dealers and the favourable location of its plants near vendors support its operations and facilitate competitive pricing of its bicycles. Hero Cycles also exports to various countries in Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.