Introduction

PSRLM regularly working for livelihood generation of rural poor women of SHGs. Some villages still have no availability of public transportation.  Lack of transportation hampers reach to educational institutions for  slum students especially girls  .In this view transportation in rural area could be promoted by providing e rickshaws to rural areas as a livelihood asset.

In a bid to improve access to education for underprivileged students from  slum areas and empower SHG women, District administration  launched an innovative initiative. They provided free e-rickshaws to self-help groups of women, who then offered free transportation to students in their communities. And it is important to write that Hon'ble  CM Punjab has directed to provide transport facility to govt school students and with this project vision of CM Punjab could be fulfilled 

Key Players:

- Self-help groups of women, who managed and operated the e-rickshaws

- Students from slum areas, who benefited from free transportation

- CSR & convergence with SC Corporation , which provided funding

- District administration: Provided leadership and coordinated efforts across various departments to ensure the smooth execution of the project

-NGOs : instrumental in the fieldwork and surveys, admissions of students, and community mobilization.

SOP

• Identification of slum students who are deprived from education due to lack of conveyance done by education department
• Identification of SC SHG members by PSRLM & PSULM. 

IMPACT

- 400 slum children benefiting from free transportation to school

- 28 SHG families  gaining a steady income through e-rickshaw operations

- Pollution-free transportation, reducing carbon footprint

- Improved attendance, punctuality, and academic performance among students

- Enhanced livelihood opportunities for women and their families.

Scalability:

- Replicate the model in other slum areas and cities

- Collaborate with government agencies for larger-scale implementation

- Integrate with existing education and women's empowerment programs

This initiative demonstrates a creative solution to address education and gender empowerment challenges in slum areas by providing free transportation and economic opportunities, it has the potential to transform lives of marginal communities.

A Win-Win for the Community:

This initiative has not only transformed the lives of these children and families but also contributed to a cleaner environment. We are proud to have made a positive impact and look forward to expanding our efforts to benefit more communities.