Ministry of Rural Development Partners with CESL to Empower Rural Women with Electric Bicycles

July 5, 2024

In a significant step towards green mobility and women empowerment, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) on Friday. The agreement aims to provide electric bicycles to rural women self-help groups (SHGs), enhancing their access to sustainable transport.

The MoU was signed by Smriti Sharan, Joint Secretary of Rural Livelihoods from MoRD, and Vishal Kapoor, MD & CEO of CESL, in the presence of Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of Rural Development.

Shailesh Kumar Singh emphasized that this Green Mobility initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering rural women, fostering economic and social progress, and supporting the creation of Lakhpati Didis. Smriti Sharan highlighted the potential of this partnership to boost rural entrepreneurship among SHG women with the introduction of “green wheels.”

Vishal Kapoor expressed CESL’s commitment to the government’s initiative of enabling three crore Lakhpati Didis in rural areas. This project, reflecting CESL’s dedication to women empowerment and national green objectives, aims to elevate the socio-economic status of SHG women by creating livelihood opportunities and fostering independence.

The initiative, named “Sustainable Transport for Rural Entrepreneurs through Electric Bicycles” (STREE), is part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). STREE focuses on empowering the rural economy by providing SHG women with electric bicycles, contributing to congestion-free rural mobility and the decarbonization of last-mile transport.

CESL, a subsidiary of state-owned Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under the Ministry of Power, focuses on energy solutions intersecting renewable energy, electric mobility, and climate change.

Since its launch, DAY-NRLM has created the largest platform for social inclusion, financial services access, and women’s economic empowerment, promoting SHG women-led enterprises in both farm and non-farm sectors.

This MoU marks a crucial step towards enhancing the socio-economic standing of rural women, fostering sustainable development, and contributing to India’s green mobility goals.