The next time you see a pink rickshaw in Ludhiana don’t be surprised. Unlike the black ones in the city that are driven by men, these e-rickshaws will not just be only for women, but will also be run and operated solely by women drivers.
In a unique initiative that will not only provide a safer and securer transport to women, but will also create livelihood opportunities for the fairer sex along with curbing pollution in the city, the district administration will soon flag off battery-operated e-rickshaws.
With a seating capacity of four, besides the driver, the vehicles have been painted pink to make the service look especially for women.
The district administration will help create a corpus of funds along with a bank account for self-help group of 15 to 20 women, who will manage and run the service.
Around 11 e-rickshaws will be provided to the self-help group of women to start the initiative. All women drivers will be from underprivileged section of society.
Separate women drivers will run these in two shifts — morning and evening. The price per km will be nominal.
Speaking about the initiative, Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said, “The objective of the initiative is women’s empowerment as it is going to be run by them and for them. Women will also feel safe with women drivers and passengers.”
He added that the group would be provided help for loan for expansion of the project after the initial phase. The women drivers are currently being given training.
“We are planning to launch the initiative by Baisakhi,” he added.
The e-rickshaws are being sponsored by the corporate sector under the CSR activity. Priced at around Rs 1 lakh for a unit, five of these will be provided by Hero EcoTech, five by Avon Cycles and one will be sponsored by FICCI Ladies Organisation.
Gaurav Munjal, MD, Hero Ecotech, said, “It is a great initiative by the district administration. Even though e-rickshaws are going to be sturdy, these will be easy to run and maintain.”
Onkar Singh Pahwa, Chairman, Avon Cycles, said this project would help curb pollution, apart from women empowerment.
PPCB Chairman Manpreet Singh Chhatwal said people should reciprocate to such initiatives as the city was identified as one of the most critically polluted cities by the Central Pollution Authority.
“Electric vehicles are cleaner means of transport, because burning one litre of diesel in a vehicle produces 2.5 kg of carbon dioxide, while petrol produces just about 2 kg of the gas. Such emissions in electric vehicles and e-rickshaws are negligible, resulting in cleaner air,” he added.
