UP rolls out 'Safe Mobility' initiative for women e-rickshaw drivers

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a ‘Safe Mobility’ initiative aimed at empowering women and enhancing their safety, with plans to provide over 1,000 e-rickshaws to women across five districts in the initial phase.
The programme focuses on generating employment for women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), while also ensuring safe, accessible, and reliable transportation for girls and working women. As part of the initiative, female e-rickshaw drivers are being trained to operate services tailored to the mobility needs of women.The scheme has already been rolled out in districts including Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kaushambi, and Jhansi, with plans to expand to other regions such as Lucknow, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Sonbhadra, Deoria, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Sitapur in the coming months.
Officials said the initiative holds particular importance in rural areas, where women-operated e-rickshaw services are emerging as a dependable solution for safe and dignified travel, especially for school-going girls and working women.The programme is being implemented under the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission, with technical support from Development Alternatives. Early results indicate strong progress, with 119 women already becoming entrepreneurs through e-rickshaw ownership across the five districts.
In addition, 629 women have undergone operational training, while 244 have been issued driving licences, enabling them to actively participate in the workforce.The initiative is also delivering economic benefits, with participating women reporting an average annual income exceeding Rs3 lakh, strengthening their financial independence and role within households.