The Women and Child Development Department has launched the ambitious "Pink E-Rickshaw" scheme in Maharashtra's Nagpur city to provide employment opportunities to women. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis distributed 50 pink e-rickshaws to eligible women in the Nagpur district. The event was held in the presence of Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare and Meghna Bordikar. The scheme, which offers e-rickshaws at subsidised rates, aims to empower women and promote safe public transportation for them.
"The Pink E-Rickshaw initiative is being launched for the benefit of women, and today its first inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of our popular Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," Minister Aditi Sunil Tatkare said.
Apart from Nagpur, the scheme will be implemented in eight other districts of Maharashtra, including Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ahilyanagar and Amravati. Under this initiative, the state government will provide a 20% subsidy on the total cost of the e-rickshaw. Women beneficiaries are required to contribute 10%, while the remaining 70% will be financed through a concessional loan.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, "The objective is to provide employment to 10,000 women across the state. Additionally, these pink e-rickshaws will offer women a safer mode of public transport, especially during night-time travel." He added that this scheme marks the first step in offering women greater financial independence and safety. He also compared the initiative to the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme, emphasising its focus on women’s empowerment and self-reliance.
Eligibility Criteria:
Annual family income must be less than Rs 3 lakh.
The applicant must be a woman aged between 18 and 35.
A valid driving licence is mandatory.
Priority will be given to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, though women from all backgrounds are eligible to apply.