In many parts of rural India, unsafe and unreliable travel has long kept women away from opportunities in education, work, and public life. The Safe Mobility initiative is turning this around by reimagining e-mobility as a pathway to both economic empowerment and greener, more inclusive local transport systems. At its heart are the Aaryas—women e-rickshaw entrepreneurs who are not just earning livelihoods but reshaping the way communities move.

Through Aarya Groups and Aarya Manch, women are building solidarity and engaging directly with systems that once excluded them. They are addressing barriers around safety, licensing, finance, and entrenched social norms, while also creating new markets by linking their services with schools, healthcare centres, village markets, farmer producer organisations, and local entrepreneurs. What began as a bold experiment has become a living example of how innovation, solidarity, and institutional convergence can rewrite the rules in a male-dominated mobility sector.

The Aarya Manch held in Kaushambi in August 2024 captured this spirit of change. Women spoke with conviction about their journeys and aspirations, while authorities matched their resolve with concrete commitments. The District Collector–NRLM pledged to tackle bottlenecks such as challans, barcodes, and loan terms, and urged departments to work in sync rather than in silos. A call was made to take the Manch deeper into villages to ensure women’s demands translated into results. Banks promised credit support, a private driving school announced free training linked to finance, and the Chief Development Officer underlined the need for stronger ties with schools and colleges, alongside better use of SHG (Self-Help Group) and CLF (Cluster Level Federation) funds.

When the Manch convened in Varanasi in September, it was the women’s voices that resonated most. Many remembered the disbelief of those around them—“Kabhi cycle nahi chala paayi toh e-rickshaw kya chalaogi?”—and the pride of proving them wrong. They spoke of the joy of earning a first income, of buying something for themselves without permission, and of being seen with respect as “Aarya Didi.” What unfolded was more than personal testimony—it was evidence of shifting norms and growing confidence.

Across both districts, the symbolism was unmistakable. Women sat alongside senior officials, their stories recognised and their leadership honoured. The dialogues did more than list problems; they unlocked pathways—access to credit, training, and regulatory support—that will help women expand their role in local transport economies.