Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh government’s women empowerment initiative, the state which has partnered with ride-hailing platform Rapido to help over 1,000 women and their families earn livelihoods as drivers, hailed as a resounding success, a move that HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh described as “a milestone in women’s economic independence.”

Sharing a video on his official social media account, Lokesh highlighted women confidently driving Rapido vehicles across urban streets. “Women empowerment has been a key focus of our government since inception. Through Rapido, more than 1,000 women have gained employment opportunities. This is just the beginning—we will be doing much more,” the Minister said.

The initiative was launched on March 8, International Women’s Day, by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu under the “One Family, One Entrepreneur” vision. In collaboration with the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers were provided to women Self-Help Group (SHG) members and their families.

As part of the pilot, loans were extended to 1,000 beneficiaries across nine urban centres. Of these, 400 women were supported in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada each, 50 in Nellore and Guntur, and 25 each in Kurnool, Tirupati, Kakinada, and Rajahmundry. Around 760 received e-scooters, while 240 benefitted with e-autos. The loans were registered in women’s names, but family members could operate the vehicles if the beneficiary lacked a licence.

Since May, 1,003 women and their families have joined the program, with 688 already registered on Rapido. Collectively, they completed over 45,000 rides in three months, earning nearly ₹35 lakh. Behind these numbers lie stories of resilience. Vadlapudi Glory Manju from Vijayawada purchased a scooter in March with government support. “I earn up to Rs.10,000 a month, enough to pay my EMI and save a little. More than money, it’s my independence that matters,” she said.

The state government now plans to expand the initiative to 4,800 women by next year. Subsidies of Rs.12,300 for scooters and up to Rs. 36,000 for e-autos are being extended, alongside technological integration to ensure transparent monitoring.

Minister Lokesh emphasised that such schemes were not just about transport. “Mobility means opportunity and dignity for women. By creating access to vehicles, credit, and platforms like Rapido, we are proving that ours is truly a people-centric government,” he said.