Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This is my first time driving an e-rickshaw. It is comfortable to ride and is both eco-friendly and cost- effective. Such an initiative by the government will help women get employment and earn a decent livelihood,” says Kavitha V, a Kudumbashree worker from Kesavadasapuram who is learning to drive an e-autorickshaw. Kavitha is one among the six Kudumbashree members who were recently given e-autorickshaws as part of the Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Limited (SCTL) project of the city corporation which is aimed at promoting a green mode of transportation and creating livelihood opportunities for women.
The six beneficiaries were selected by the Kudumbashree district mission coordinator based on their poor economic backgrounds and prior driving experience. “Unlike the usual auto- rickshaws, e-autos have a different mechanism. Therefore, beneficiaries require special training. After a year of service, the vehicles will be registered under