Maharashtra plans double subsidy under Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme for women

The Maharashtra government has proposed to increase the subsidy under its Pink ERickshaw Scheme for women from 20 per cent to 40 per cent with the aim of promoting womens entrepreneurship and improving livelihood opportunities reported the PTIAccording to an official statement women who have already purchased erickshaws under the scheme will also be eligible to receive the benefit of the enhanced subsidyUnder the proposed revised guidelines beneficiaries will contribute 60 per cent of the cost of the erickshaw including a minimum 10 per cent from their own fundsThe remaining 50 per cent can be financed either through an interestfree deferred payment facility provided by the vehicle supplier or through a bank loan making the scheme more accessible to eligible women according to the PTIScheme to be expanded across the stateThe state government has also decided to extend the Pink ERickshaw Scheme beyond the existing eight districts allowing more women across Maharashtra to benefit from the initiative as per the PTIIn addition the Women and Child Development Minister has been authorised to revise districtwise beneficiary targets based on implementation requirementsSubsidies to be routed through commissionerFinancial assistance under the scheme will be disbursed through the office of the Commissioner Women and Child Development PuneThe state cabinet has also empowered the Women and Child Development Minister to make necessary changes during the implementation of the scheme to resolve operational challenges and ensure its smooth executionFocus on womens economic empowermentThe revised scheme is designed to strengthen womens financial independence by encouraging selfemployment supporting entrepreneurship and creating sustainable sources of income through electric vehicle ownershipMaharashtra approves plan for 145 rail flyoversMeanwhile Maharashtra CM Fadnavis on Monday announced that the state government has approved a proposal to construct 145 rail overbridges over the next three years as part of its plan to eliminate railway level crossings across the state reported the PTIThe Chief Minister said the ambitious infrastructure programme aims to improve road safety reduce traffic congestion and prevent accidents at railway crossingsFadnavis made the announcement after inaugurating nine railway infrastructure projects alongside Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin GadkariThe projects developed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation MahaRail include four rail overbridges ROBs four underpasses and one rail underbridge RUBThe newly inaugurated projects are located in Nagpur Sangli Satara Nashik and AmravatiThe Chief Minister said railway level crossings remain a major safety concern across the countryHe noted that around 21000 people lose their lives every year at railway level crossings in India underlining the need to replace them with safer infrastructureAccording to Fadnavis the state government will work closely with the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to complete the remaining projectswith PTI inputs