In a progressive move, Maharashtra government is planning to introduce pink e-rickshaws driven by women in 10 cities, including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur.
The initiative will be known as 'Pink Rickshaws'. It will empower unemployed women by providing them with a means of income and addressing the need for safe transportation options for women.
The plan was presented to Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar. It proposes a 20% government subsidy for women to purchase rickshaws. The women will contribute 10% of the cost, with bank loans covering the remaining 70%.
The Women and Child Development Department, led by Minister Aditi Tatkare, has suggested the inclusion of 5,000 pink rickshaws in the program's first year. The department's commissioner, Dr. Prashant Narnaware, announced that these rickshaws will serve ten cities in Maharashtra. They are Mumbai city, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai suburban, Thane, Panvel, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Nashik, and Nagpur.
However, the plan has faced criticism from Mumbai Autorickshaw Taximen's Union President Shashank Rao. He argues that the scheme is flawed as it restricts the operation of these vehicles to women only.
The concept of gender-specific rickshaws is not new in Maharashtra. A similar initiative, the 'Aboli Rickshaw' programme, was launched a few years ago but did not achieve the expected success.
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