Amaravati, Aug 25 (PTI) The Andhra Pradesh government has empowered 1,003 women from Self-Help Groups by providing them with vehicles to join a ride-hailing platform, as reported by the ruling TDP on Monday.
Launched on March 8 by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the initiative, under the "One Family, One Entrepreneur" vision, aims to provide electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers to the urban poor.
"Through this poverty elimination initiative, 1,003 SHG women have been able to secure vehicles and start earning by joining Rapido," stated a press release from TDP.
The Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) facilitated loans through banks for this self-employment program, with the vehicles distributed across nine cities, including Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Nellore, Guntur, Kurnool, Tirupati, Kakinada, and Rajahmundry.
Among the recipients, 760 opted for electric scooters, while 240 chose electric autorickshaws, with subsidies ranging from Rs 12,300 for scooters to Rs 36,000 for autorickshaws.
The ride-hailing platform waived onboarding charges for four months and provided Rs 1,000 equated monthly installment (EMI) assistance during the first year to reduce the initial financial burden on the beneficiaries.
"Women empowerment is a key focus of the TDP government. Partnering with a transport platform to support over 1,000 women is significant," quoted IT Minister Nara Lokesh in the press release.
Beneficiaries reported earning between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 per month, aiding in managing household expenses, EMIs, and health-related costs during challenging family circumstances, according to the press release.
A total of 45,000 rides were completed between May and July, generating a collective income of Rs 35 lakh, while the government has set a target to expand this opportunity to 4,800 women drivers by next year, it added.
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