Kolhapur: Taking a significant step toward women empowerment and sustainable mobility, the Government of Maharashtra has launched the ‘Pink E-Rickshaw’ scheme. Under the leadership of the Department of Women and Child Development, this initiative aims to deploy 10,000 eco-friendly Kinetic Green electric three-wheelers across eight districts Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The project is intended to promote both environmental sustainability and economic independence for women.
Speaking at the event, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said the initiative will boost green mobility and open up new livelihood opportunities for women.
The fourth fleet of Pink E-Rickshaws was handed over to women beneficiaries in a special event held in Kolhapur.
As part of the scheme, the Maharashtra government will provide a 20% subsidy on the cost of each e-rickshaw. Beneficiaries will contribute 10% as a down payment, while the remaining 70% will be financed through bank loans arranged by the project's financial partners. These loans will be offered at low-interest rates, ensuring accessible financial support.
Further, the state government and Kinetic Green will collaborate with local women’s self-help groups and run on-ground programs to support beneficiaries. Kinetic Green will also provide free driver training, assist in obtaining driving licenses, and set up robust charging infrastructure.
To support the rollout, Kinetic Green will install 1,500 charging stations across the eight participating districts. Each vehicle and battery will come with a five-year warranty, and an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) will cover all scheduled and preventive maintenance services. Beneficiaries will receive one free service every quarter for five years.
Prominent dignitaries present at the Kolhapur launch event included MP Shahu Maharaj, School Education and Technical Minister Hasan Mushrif, Guardian Minister Prakash Ambitkar, former MLA Rajesh Patil, Zilla Parishad CEO Karthikeyan, Kinetic Green Founder & CEO Sulajja Firodia Motwani, and Co-founder & Executive Director Ritesh Mantri.
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