‘India Forklift Operator of the Year’ Srinivasa N D has beaten tough competition from across three continents to reach the Grand Finals of the International Forklift Operator of the Year, demonstrating that Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign really could become a reality as India shows it can compete with global talent.

Srinivasa, who works at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, had the chance to travel to the UK to compete in the International Forklift Operator of the Year after winning the ‘India Forklift Operator of the Year’ competition hosted by Praguna in 2015.  As part of his prize, he received an all-expenses paid trip to Birmingham, UK to take part in the live competition heats at IMHX (International Materials Handling Exhibition) from 13th – 16th September.

Ten contestants each day competed in four heats and Srinivasa made it through to the Grand Final alongside 11 other forklift drivers.

“This competition once again showed that Srinivasa has a high level of knowledge, skill and understanding of efficient and safe forklift operation,” says Saurabh Goyal, CEO of ThinkLink Learning, which, under the brand Praguna, runs a wide range of programmes in skilling and human capability development in logistics and is RTITB’s exclusive, accredited partner delivering forklift training across India.  

“We’re very proud that he will be competing in the Grand Final and hope that it helps raise awareness of how correct forklift operator training can improve safety and efficiency in Indian supply chains.”

The award is hosted by UK-based RTITB, the globally recognized body for workplace transport training, and aims to celebrate the skills and knowledge of forklift drivers while promoting safety and encouraging all operators to achieve accuracy, control and efficiency. RTITB works closely with Praguna, which is committed to helping to make India the skill capital of the world and is the only vocational business in India to be RTITB accredited. Praguna is also a recognised partner of the Logistics Skill Council India.

The Grand Finals will take place in early 2017 where the 12 top forklift operators will compete in various live challenges in front of an audience, hoping to be crowned International Forklift Operator of the Year.

“This prestigious award helps to reiterate an important message about safe and efficient forklift operation, as well as the importance of training for drivers,” says Laura Nelson, Managing Director of RTITB, the preferred global standards setting body for workplace transport training. “With an international competitor reaching the Grand Final for the first time in the competition’s history, we hope that this important message has global impact.”