Maharashtra Pink E Rickshaw Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

• The Maharashtra government has announced a women-oriented scheme called the "Pink E Rickshaw Scheme".
• The scheme was announced by the Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar on June 28, 2024, while presenting the supplementary budget for 2024-25.
• The primary objective of the scheme is to generate employment for women and girls, making them economically and socially independent.
• This initiative meant to open the doors of self employment and enable women to contribute to their family income in a respected manner.
• Additionally, the Pink E Rickshaw scheme promotes women empowerment and ensures safe travel for women and girls, especially during nighttime.
• The Pink E Rickshaw scheme aims to extend benefits to women beneficiaries who want to be self-reliant.
• Under the Pink E Rickshaw Scheme, the government offers financial assistance for the purchase of an E rickshaw.
• As per the scheme, eligible women need to pay 10% of the rickshaw price at the time of purchase.
• Government will provide 70% of the rickshaw price as a loan from the leading banks, which can be repaid by the women in five years (60 months).
• The remaining 20% of rickshaw amount will be funded by the state government.
• Financial Assistance will be provided under Pink E Rickshaw Scheme of Maharashtra Government to all women who are willing to purchase an E Rickshaw for employment.
• Eligible beneficiaries women can use these Pink E Rickshaw to transport women passengers from one place to another.
• The maximum price of the E Rickshaw under the scheme is capped at Rs 4 lakh.
• It means, a maximum subsidy of Rs. 80,000/- will be provided by the government to the beneficiaries.
• Moreover, the E Rickshaw to be bought under the Pink E Rickshaw scheme must have the following specification : -
  • It must come with a 10 HP motor.
  • It maximum range in a single charge should be 110 km.
  • Comes with a seating capacity of 3+1 (driver).
• The Pink E Rickshaw Scheme will be implemented in phases across Maharashtra.
• In the first phase, 10,000 women from 17 cities in the state will be selected for financial assistance.
• Women who meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the scheme guidelines can apply.
• Applicants must possess a valid driving license to avail Pink E rickshaw scheme benefits.
• Application form for the Pink E Rickshaw scheme will be submitted offline at Women and Child Development Office.
• Women can purchase these E Rickshaws from cities mentioned in the scheme through agencies selected by the nodal authority.
• If applications receive more than the number of beneficiaries fixed for each city, the beneficiaries of the scheme will be selected through a lottery.
• The Government has allocated a budget of Rs 80 crore, for the implementation of Pink E Rickshaw Scheme.
• The Government has appointed Women and Child Development of Maharashtra as a nodal authority and allocated a budget of Rs 80 crore, for the implementation of Pink E Rickshaw Scheme.
• To know more about the scheme applicant can visit the Women and Child Development Department Office.

Scheme Benefits

• The Maharashtra Government offers the following benefits under its women-oriented Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme : -
  • Financial Assistance is provided for the purchase of E-Rickshaw.
  • Women can avail loan benefits of 70% of the rickshaw amount.
  • State government will bear 20% of the rickshaw cost.
  • The loan amount can be repaid within 5 years i.e. 60 months.

Beneficiary and City List

• In the first phase of Pink E Rickshaw scheme, the government will provide E Rickshaw to 10,000 beneficiaries in the following cities : -

  City Name	Number of Beneficiaries
  Mumbai Suburb	1400
  Thane	1000
  Pune	1400
  Nashik	700
  Nagpur	1400
  Kalyan	400
  Ahmednagar	400
  Navi Mumbai	500
  Pimpri	300
  Amravati	300
  Chinchwad	300
  Panvel	300
  Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar	400
  Dombivali	400
  Vasai-Virar	400
  Kolhapur	200
  Solapur	200
  Total	10,000

Eligibility Requirements

• Financial Assistance to Purchase E Rickshaw will be provided to only those women beneficiaries who fulfil the following eligibility criteria of Maharashtra Pink E Rickshaw Scheme : -

  The applicant must be a permanent resident of Maharashtra. The applicant must have a Valid Driving License. Only women beneficiaries are eligible for this scheme. The age of the applicants should be between 18 to 35 years. Applicants annual family income should be less than 3 Lakh. Women belonging to any of the given categories will be preferred. Widow or Legally divorced Willing entrants of state homes Young Orphans, Grandmothers, or Ex-residents of orphanages/Children Homes. Women of BPL category. Beneficiary women must have a valid bank account.

Ineligibility Criteria of the Scheme

• Women who fall in any of the below mentioned criteria are not entitled to receive Pink E Rickshaw benefits : -
  • If women receive Rickshaw benefits from other schemes.
  • If women are in debt.
  • If the annual income of a woman's family exceeds Rs 3 Lakh.

Required Documents

• Documents to be provided at the time of applying for financial assistance to purchase E Rickshaw under Pink E Rickshaw Scheme of Maharashtra Government are as follows :-
  • Age Proof.
  • Aadhaar Card.
  • PAN Card.
  • Voter ID Card.
  • Bank Account Passbook.
  • Maharashtra Domicile Certificate.
  • Passport Size photograph.
  • Ration Card.
  • Affidavit that applicant is not indebted to any bank.
  • Annual Income Certificate.
  • Driving License.
  • Category Certificate. (Widow/Legally divorced/orphans/Children Homes etc.)
  • Applicants undertaking that E-rickshaw will be driven by himself.
  • Applicant Undertaking to abide by the terms and conditions of the scheme.
    

Steps to Apply

• Beneficiary women who fulfill the eligibility conditions can apply for the Pink E Rickshaw Scheme.
• Application forms for Pink E Rickshaw Scheme are invited offline.
• Pink E Rickshaw Scheme application form can be obtained from the Women and Child Development Department or online from its website.
• Applicants need to fill out the details required in the application form carefully.
• Paste your recent passport size photograph and attach copies of all essential documents as aforementioned.
• Now submit this duly filled in application form to Women and Child Development Department of Maharashtra.
• A committee formed by the nodal authority will scrutinize the received applications.
• Applicants who pass the scrutiny test will be notified through provided means.
• Upon approval, applicants need to complete the rest of the process as stated.

Key Features of the scheme

• Pink E Rickshaw is exclusively for the Women and Girls in Maharashtra.
• Benefits under the scheme will be provided only once.
• Beneficiaries should not have received Rickshaw benefits from schemes implemented by other departments.
• Women beneficiaries should not be debtors.
• In the first phase, the scheme will benefit 10,000 women from 17 cities.
• Maximum assistance provided by the state government is Rs 80,000/-, which is 20% of the rickshaw amount.
• Beneficiaries can avail a loan for up to 70% of the rickshaw price from leading banks; such as Urban Cooperative Banks/ District Central Cooperative Banks/ Nationalized Banks/ Permitted Private Banks.
• The responsibility to repay the loan is solely of women beneficiaries.
• Loan amount must be repaid within 5 years, along with applicable rate of interest.
• Nodal authority will provide information to beneficiaries about the lending bank and agencies supplying the rickshaw.
• To receive benefits, applicants need to submit their application first.
• Post final approval, applicants need to apply for a loan from the lending bank earmarked by the authority.
• Once the loan is approved, applicants need to pay the 10% of the rickshaw amount to the concerned agencies.
• Government will pay his 20% part directly to the vehicle agency through the nodal department i.e. Women and Child Department Officer.
• Issued E Rickshaw must be driven by the beneficiaries.
• Strict action will be taken against the beneficiaries if the rickshaw is found to be driven by another or by a male.

Relevant Links

• Pink E Rickshaw Scheme Application Form.
• Pink E Rickshaw Scheme Guidelines.
• Women and Child Development, Maharashtra Official Website.

Contact Information

• Women and Child Development Department of Maharashtra Contact Number : - 020- 26360063.
• 2nd floor, Commissionerate Women and child Development,
  28 Queens Garden, Near Old Circuit House, Pune 01.