Raipur, August 2026: The Didi E-Rickshaw Assistance Scheme, implemented by the Labour Department under the governance of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, is bringing about significant social and economic transformation in the lives of women in Chhattisgarh.
Sevati Thakur from Jhalmala village and Anju Netam from Sewni village in Balod district have benefited from the scheme and have become financially self-reliant. Their success stories are also inspiring other women to pursue self-employment and strengthen their families’ incomes.
E-Rickshaw Makes Transportation Easier, Boosts Earnings
Sevati Thakur, a resident of Jhalmala village, is registered with the Labour Department and is associated with a self-help group through which she operates a canteen.
She said that earlier, she faced considerable difficulties in transporting raw materials and food supplies required for the canteen. Hiring vehicles regularly also involved substantial expenses, which affected the group’s earnings.
Through the Didi E-Rickshaw Assistance Scheme, Sevati received financial assistance and support through a bank loan, enabling her to purchase an e-rickshaw.
She now handles the transportation of materials herself, eliminating the need to pay daily vehicle rental charges. This has reduced her expenses and contributed to a significant increase in the self-help group’s profits.
Expressing her gratitude to the Chief Minister, Sevati said that Vishnu Deo Sai had stood by women like a supportive elder brother and provided them with opportunities to become financially independent.
Anju Turns E-Rickshaw Into Source of Livelihood
Anju Netam, from Sewni village, was earlier a homemaker. After receiving an e-rickshaw under the government scheme, she turned it into a source of self-employment.
She now provides transportation services in her village, including taking schoolchildren from their homes to school and bringing them back. She also undertakes other local transportation work.
Through these services, Anju earns a net income of around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 every month. The additional income has strengthened her family’s financial position and given her greater economic independence.
Anju also said that she regularly benefits from the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, another government initiative aimed at supporting women.
According to her, such women-focused welfare and empowerment programmes have helped build confidence among women and encouraged them to play a more active role in supporting their families financially.
The government’s initiatives have helped women like Sevati and Anju become important contributors to their household economies while also enhancing their social standing and self-confidence.
Their experiences demonstrate how targeted financial assistance, access to credit and livelihood opportunities can help women move towards sustainable self-employment and economic empowerment.
The state government has emphasised that such schemes are intended not only to provide financial support but also to create lasting opportunities for women to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of their families and communities.
