Pink E-Rickshaws a Major Step Towards Women Empowerment and Safety: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Nagpur : The Maharashtra Government has taken several proactive measures towards women empowerment and is effectively implementing them. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme, operated by women for women under the Department of Women and Child Development, marks a significant step in enhancing both empowerment and safety of women. He reaffirmed his commitment to the cause by traveling in one of the Pink E-Rickshaws operated by a beneficiary.

At a special event organized by the Department of Women and Child Development at the Planning Bhavan in Nagpur, CM Fadnavis handed over 50 Pink E-Rickshaws to eligible women beneficiaries from the district. Present at the event were Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, Minister of State Meghana Sakore-Bordikar, MLAs Sandeep Joshi and Dr. Ashish Deshmukh, department officials including Dr. Anup Kumar Yadav (Secretary), Commissioner Nayana Gunde, District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar, and MahaMetro MD Shravan Hardikar.

CM Fadnavis emphasized that the state government is fully committed to women’s empowerment and has provided employment opportunities through various initiatives. The Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme enables underprivileged women to earn a livelihood while also offering working women a safe means of transportation. A total of 50 e-rickshaws have been distributed in this initial phase, and the goal is to distribute 2,000 e-rickshaws across Nagpur district, generating significant employment opportunities.

To facilitate feeder services for metro commuters, a partnership has been established between the Women and Child Development Department and MahaMetro. This will guarantee stable employment for women e-rickshaw operators. The Chief Minister also stated that similar partnerships will be formed with the state’s tourism and other departments to expand job opportunities for these women.

Minister Aditi Tatkare shared that the Pink E-Rickshaw is a flagship scheme aimed at empowering women by providing them with sustainable livelihood options. Currently active in eight districts, the goal is to distribute 5,000 rickshaws within the first six months. In Nagpur, the distribution began with 50 rickshaws. The women have undergone a minimum 10-day training and are also provided with five years of vehicle maintenance and access to charging stations. With the MahaMetro partnership, these women will offer feeder services and earn a steady income. In the future, Pink E-Rickshaw services will also be made available at airports and tourist spots.

As a symbolic gesture, CM Fadnavis personally handed over keys to 11 selected women beneficiaries at the event.

CM Takes a Ride in Pink E-Rickshaw

Following the ceremony, CM Fadnavis, along with Ministers Aditi Tatkare and Meghana Sakore-Bordikar, traveled in a Pink E-Rickshaw driven by beneficiary Pooja Narendra Wankhede in Sanyal Nagar, Tekanaka, Nagpur. By being the rickshaw’s first passenger, he sent a strong message of trust and support to the women.

Under this ambitious scheme, 2,000 Pink E-Rickshaws will be distributed in Nagpur district. A total of 2,040 applications were received from interested women aged between 20 and 50. Out of these, a committee chaired by the District Collector approved 1,032 beneficiaries, and the first 50 have now received their vehicles.

About the Scheme:

The state government’s Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme, launched by the Department of Women and Child Development, aims to provide livelihood opportunities to women across eight districts—Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Amravati, Sambhajinagar, Solapur, and Kolhapur. The scheme offers financial assistance for vehicle purchase and provides necessary training and infrastructure for women to operate e-rickshaws efficiently and independently.