The Maharashtra government is set to implement an innovative initiative to bolster women's safety and encourage employment opportunities. The plan involves the introduction of 'Pink Rickshaws' in nine key cities, including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, and deploying e-autos to address environmental concerns.
The initiative, 'Pink Rickshaws,' aims to provide a source of income for financially disadvantaged women and ensure the safety of women commuting in these cities. According to reports, approximately 5,000 pink rickshaws are under consideration for the first year. The government has included e-rickshaws in the pink rickshaw scheme to promote environmental sustainability, as these rickshaws require less maintenance.
Women drivers will operate e-rickshaws. The government plans to offer unemployed women a 20 per cent subsidy to purchase a rickshaw. Applicants will be responsible for covering 10 per cent of the cost, and the remaining 70 per cent will be financed through bank loans.
Previously, these e-rickshaws were launched in Goa, Lucknow, and Surat.
The concept of initiating rickshaws operated by women is not novel. Previously, the state government implemented the 'Aboli Rickshaw' scheme for women, which lacked a subsidy provision. Participants were required to contribute 15 per cent of the vehicle cost, with the remaining 85 per cent covered by bank loans. However, the scheme faced limited success, and 'Aboli Rickshaws' are scarcely visible in Maharashtra.
Earlier, the Maharashtra government had introduced a year-long 'Mukhymantri Mahila Sashaktikaran Abhiyan' (Chief Minister Women Empowerment Campaign) from October 2, 2023, to October 1, 2024. The initiative focuses on providing professional training to women interested in expanding their businesses and establishing linkages for raw materials and markets. The campaign aims to benefit at least 1 lakh women in each district and train at least 10 lakh women through government departments, NGOs, and training institutes.