The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated the ‘Safe Mobility Program’ to empower women, focusing on creating employment opportunities for female members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The program involves training female e-rickshaw pilots statewide to provide safe and dignified transportation for women and girls traveling to various destinations, including schools and workplaces. Initially, around 1,000 e-rickshaws are being allocated to women from SHGs, with the service already operational in several districts and expanding to more areas soon.
This initiative by the Yogi government is crucial for enhancing women’s safety, particularly in rural regions, where female-driven e-rickshaws are ensuring secure mobility for women and girls. Implemented under the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission with support from ‘Development Alternatives,’ the program has shown promising outcomes. Across five districts, 119 women have become entrepreneurs through the e-rickshaw provision, with 629 women receiving operational training and 244 obtaining driving licenses.
The women participating in this program are not just driving vehicles but also becoming economic pillars in their families. The average annual income of women engaged in this scheme surpassing Rs 3 lakh highlights the success of this model. The ‘Safe Mobility’ initiative is not only enhancing road safety but also facilitating easier access to education for girls, safer commutes for working women, creating new job opportunities in villages, and empowering women from SHGs towards self-reliance.
