Pink E-Rickshaw a Significant Step Towards Women Empowerment and Safety – CM Devendra Fadnavis

• 50 Pink E-Rickshaws distributed to eligible women by the Chief Minister
• CM took a ride in a Pink E-Rickshaw to show solidarity and confidence

Nagpur, April 20 – The Government of Maharashtra is actively implementing multiple initiatives to empower women. One such move is the Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme, operated by women for women, launched by the Women and Child Development Department. Speaking at the event in Nagpur, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called it a key step in empowering women and ensuring their safety. He also took a ride in one of the rickshaws to express his support.

Under this scheme, 50 eligible women from Nagpur district received e-rickshaws from the Chief Minister at a program held at Planning Bhavan. Also present were Minister Aditi Tatkare, MoS Meghna Sakore-Bordikar, MLAs Sandeep Joshi and Dr. Ashish Deshmukh, Secretary Dr. Anup Yadav, Commissioner Nayana Gunde, Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar, and MahaMetro MD Shravan Hardikar.

CM stated the state is committed to women's empowerment through schemes like this which provide livelihood opportunities. Besides employment, the scheme offers safe transport for working women. The target is to distribute 2,000 e-rickshaws in Nagpur; 50 have already been handed out.

An agreement between MahaMetro and the Women & Child Development Department enables feeder services at metro stations, giving e-rickshaw women drivers steady employment. Similar partnerships with the Tourism Department and others will follow.

Minister Aditi Tatkare added that the scheme is being implemented in 8 districts and aims to distribute 5,000 rickshaws in the first phase over six months. The women are given at least 10 days of training, and 5-year maintenance and charging support is included. Pink E-Rickshaws will soon also operate at airports and tourist destinations.

CM also took a ride with beneficiary Pooja Narendra Wankhede, becoming the first passenger, inspiring confidence among the women.

Out of 2,040 applications, 1,032 have been approved and 50 have been distributed in this first phase.