Poonam, an ASHA worker in Bahraich, remembers the challenge of reaching patients in time if anyone fell sick. ‘If my husband was around, he’d ferry me back and forth, but otherwise, I was stuck. But not anymore,’ she says, beaming from behind the wheel of her red e-rickshaw.
In the rural heartlands of Uttar Pradesh, mobility has long been a barrier to opportunity – especially for women, with limited access to safe transport having kept them dependent on male family members for education, healthcare, and work. But a clean-tech last-mile mobility solution is rewriting the script by putting women in the driver’s seat – literally.
Poonam Devi.
Through a partnership with SMV Green Solutions, Sustain Plus is enabling women across four districts – Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad, and Bahraich – to become ‘Vahinis’, or e-rickshaw entrepreneurs. Women receive electric three-wheelers, driving lessons, assistance with obtaining a license, and a real chance at financial independence.
E-Rickshaws Become Lifelines
Poonam doesn’t just drive herself anymore – she has turned her e-rickshaw into a makeshift ambulance, replacing traditional ambulances that struggle to navigate narrow villages roads. She and 44 other Vahinis cover 80 km daily across 8-10 trips, earning about ₹12,500 per month and often supplementing their income through rentals.
By transforming rural women into entrepreneurs, the project addresses a threefold challenge – mobility, safety, and unemployment – while giving women the chance to earn, save, and invest in their families’ futures.
‘My kids used to study in a government school, but after I started driving around, I’ve been able to enrol them in a private school,’ Poonam says, adding that she’s also able to save some money for herself on the side.
Breaking Barriers, Changing Perceptions
Initially, these women drivers were an unfamiliar sight in their villages – but today, they are affectionately known as ‘E-rickshaw Didis’, underscoring them as symbols of change, proving that women belong on the roads and in business.
‘Everyone used to laugh at us at first,’ says Anita, another e-rickshaw entrepreneur. ‘But slowly, their laughter faded away.’ Families in the village now trust her to safely transport their daughters and wives, reshaping community perceptions of women drivers.
The ‘Didis’ have struck a chord with other women, too. ‘They used to be scared of getting around on their own. But now, they look at us admiringly and tell us that they’d love to drive around as well,’ says Nirmala, an e-rickshaw entrepreneur.
Safety and Sustainability
The e-rickshaws come equipped with cloud-based cameras, smartphones, and a panic button linked to local police stations, ensuring that the women travel without fear.
Beyond personal safety, the vehicles also tackle air pollution by reducing emissions and increasing driving time at low operating costs.
‘A big reason behind why the e-rickshaws are such a hit is because they only need to be charged using household plug points. This way, there’s no need for added expenses on petrol or diesel,’ says Parveen Fatima, a project manager at SMV Green Solutions.
A Future in Motion
With each trip they make, the ‘E-Rickshaw Didis’ are driving more than just passengers – they’re driving change. They’re proving that women in rural India don’t just need better mobility; they deserve to be the ones leading it. As this movement grows, so does the vision: a future where every woman has the power to move – on her own terms.