Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Pune could see as many as 4,000 pink e-rickshaws on its roads in 2025 under a scheme implemented by Maharashtra’s women and child development department. So far, 566 women have applied for the scheme and 353 of the applications have been approved.
The Government has an objective of introducing 10,000 women-driven electric autorickshaws across the state, with 1,400 initially allocated to Pune. Manisha Biraris, district women and child development officer, said the number of beneficiaries in Pune was increased first to 2,800 and later to 4,000. Nevertheless, she clarified that the overall statewide target remains unchanged at 10,000 beneficiaries.
Biraris said the scheme aims to uplift women drivers and empower them economically. “The pink e-rickshaw scheme has been introduced to promote employment opportunities for women, enabling them to become self-reliant and independent. Earlier, Pune’s allocation was 1,400 e-rickshaws, but now it has been revised to 4,000. We will do our best to recruit all eligible beneficiaries this year,” she said.
Biraris explained that there will be no educational requirements to apply for the scheme. However, the department has revised the eligibility age from 18–35 to 20–40 to provide educational opportunities to women who do not complete their studies by the age of 18.
Applicants must also have a valid driving licence and a family income not exceeding Rs 3 lakh per annum. They must be domiciled in the state. Documents such as Ladki Bahin Yojana certificates, birth certificates, school certificates, and ration cards will be considered for this purpose.
Biraris said many applications are now coming from women in their late 30s. The beneficiaries will have to bear only 10 per cent of the cost of the e-rickshaws initially. The state government will cover 20 per cent of the cost, while the remaining 70 per cent will be financed through a government-facilitated loan that beneficiaries must repay within five years.
A committee was formed to implement the scheme under the chairmanship of the district collector, with members from the women and child development department, regional transport office and the Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal. Additionally, the commissioners of the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations are invited to be part of the initiative.
“We urge more women to apply. The scheme includes free maintenance of e-rickshaws for the first five years, and charging stations will also be developed. The vehicles will operate on dedicated routes inspected by the RTO. While preference will be given to women and child commuters, the services will not be restricted to them,” Biraris said.
To ensure the safety of women drivers, Biraris suggested measures including having more surveillance cameras along the designated routes. “We have engaged in dialogue with women drivers to understand the challenges they face while operating autos,” she said.
Interested women can visit the women and child development office or their nearest anganwadi centres to apply. The scheme will initially be rolled out in 17 cities of Maharashtra, with the first phase implemented in Pune, Kolhapur, Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Nagpur, and Amravati.
