- 50 pink e-rickshaws launched in Nagpur by CM Devendra Fadnavis
- Focused on women empowerment and enhancing last-mile connectivity
- Initiative supports opportunities for women towards self-employment
To foster women empowerment and enhance last-mile connectivity, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis flagged off 50 pink e-rickshaws in Nagpur on Sunday. The vehicles were given to women beneficiaries who were eligible under the Pink E-Rickshaw scheme of the state government.
The Women and Child Development Department launched the project to provide job opportunities to women and ensure self-sufficiency. The function, held at the Town Planning Bhavan on Mount Road, was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presenting 'honorary keys' to the beneficiaries.
Devendra, in his address, also announced a future MoU with MahaMetro to make use of these pink e-rickshaws as a feeder service at Nagpur metro stations. "This collaboration will offer secure public transport, particularly for working women," he said.
As per a request by Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, promised that more such collaborations were in the pipeline with airport authorities and the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. "The programme, which was initiated in eight Maharashtra districts, will disburse 5,000 pink e-rickshaws in the first phase of which 2,000 would come under Nagpur district," said the CM. He said that collaborating with MahaMetro would provide people job opportunities permanently and constant transport facilities to the passengers.
The initiative is also to be taken to airports and tourist hotspots in the days ahead. From 2,040 women applicants between 20 and 50 years, 1,032 were accepted by a committee led by District Collector Vipin Itankar. Every beneficiary selected will undergo a minimum of 10 days of training and will receive five years of maintenance and charging support. "As in the case of the Ladki Bahin, program, so also this scheme is to bring security and freedom to our sisters," Fadnavis added. He added that these rickshaws are GPS-enabled and eco-friendly.
Minister Aditi also made some remarks regarding talks in progress and potential collaborations with cab booking apps, whereby individuals can choose to travel via a pink e-rickshaw. The event was attended by Minister of State Meghna Sakore-Bordikar, Saoner MLA Ashish Deshmukh, MLC Sandeep Joshi, among other senior officials like Collector Itankar and MahaMetro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar.
Devendra, along with Aditi and Meghna, also took a ride in an e-rickshaw, driven by beneficiary Pooja Wankhede post-flag-off.
