IDFC Foundation and Taliru Foundation aims to create a self-sustaining model to empower women from marginalized urban and semi-urban communities by offering self- employment opportunities through electric autorickshaw driving. The broad objectives of this program include:

• Promote gender inclusive urban transportation by integrating trained women drivers for driving e-autorickshaws through ecosystem support.
• Enhance financial independence of under-privileged women by facilitating access to sustainable income opportunities through the deployment of a self-sustaining e- autorickshaw operating model.
• Improve earnings and operational efficiency for women by driving electric autorickshaws, and thereby improve their quality of life (including their family members)
• Reduce carbon footprint and air pollution (caused primarily by PM 2.5, PM 10 and NOx) from the autorickshaw segment.

Our program targets underprivileged and financially challenged women aged 18 to 45, with a focus on those with limited formal education. Preference would be given to single mothers and women facing difficult circumstances, such as living with alcoholic or abusive partners. We specifically would seek women who demonstrate the ability, aptitude, and determination to embrace new opportunities and overcome challenges. Our goal is to empower them to transform their lives and create a lasting impact.

From a market perspective, the following factors apply:

• Women drivers are perceived as a safe option by society to chauffer children and women. Many schools in the city prefer women drivers as well.
• Driving training schools with women instructors are very much in demand to train the increasing number of women drivers in the city.
• There are constant enquiries from companies such as Ola, Rapido, Namma Yatri and Uber who encourage women to become professional drivers.
• There is demand from airports & public transit authorities for women drivers for driving electric autorickshaws as a last-mile option.
• There is also a huge potential for women-driven autorickshaws to drive along tourist circuits, especially with Mysuru being a huge tourist destination.

The program deploys a four-step process to facilitate a self-sustaining model for women to get trained for driving, own/ lease and operate e-autorickshaws.

The program components include:

Step 1 - Beneficiary Identification

This step involves conducting targeted beneficiary identification programs in urban and semi-urban lower-income communities or through state-registered women's self-help groups/ joint liability groups to identify interested women who aspire to drive electric autorickshaws as their primary source of livelihood. This will include collaborating with local community organizations, shelters, and social workers to identify eligible candidates.

Step 2 - Empowering Women through Skill Development and Training

The program will provide comprehensive driving training, covering the process of obtaining a Learner’s License (LL) and Driver’s License (DL), along with on-road driving instruction. Beneficiaries will be enrolled at Maruti Driving School in Mysuru, where they will receive a structured training program that includes LL and DL assistance, simulator training, theoretical lessons, and 10 hours of practical driving experience. Auto-rickshaw driving will be taught in three progressive stages: first on open grounds, then in less populated, newer localities, and finally on the busy streets of Mysuru. Training will be conducted by experienced female drivers who have completed the "Train the Trainer" program with Maruti Driving School. Participants will gain hands-on experience with both CNG and electric (EV) auto-rickshaws.

In addition, the program features a specialized life skills curriculum comprising ten carefully curated modules designed to enhance participants’ mindset, confidence, and financial management abilities. This training aims to equip women with the essential skills needed to manage their earnings effectively and succeed in their new roles.

The life skills training will cover a range of critical topics, including self-defense, financial literacy, legal awareness, road safety and driving regulations, first aid and CPR, health and hygiene, and customer service skills, among others. The total duration of the training would be approximately 34-36 hours, with each session limited to around two hours per day.

Step 3 - Enable and Facilitate the Operating Model

This step involves designing and facilitating an e-autorickshaw ownership and operating model through women’s Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) or Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Mysuru, leveraging existing community networks and financial structures.

In SHGs, women collectively save money and provide loans to each other, fostering financial independence. JLGs, on the other hand, consist of women who come together to access bank credit with minimal eligibility requirements and favourable financing terms. By utilizing the JLG model, bulk procurement of e-autorickshaws can be achieved while adhering to credit limits for each group. Trained women who are either part of a state-registered SHG/JLG or have joined the program individually will be mapped to different SHGs or JLGs for operations, based on their consent and preferences.

Under the JLG model, the groups would lease e-autorickshaws to trained women drivers, with leasing costs and terms determined in collaboration with the JLGs. The SHG model, leveraging collective savings and credit histories, will provide women with greater access to affordable financial options, easing their path to vehicle ownership. Beyond financial benefits, integrating SHGs and JLGs is expected to create a multiplier effect—encouraging more women within these networks to explore e-autorickshaw driving as a viable and sustainable livelihood, thereby increasing female participation in urban mobility.

Additionally, we will facilitate autorickshaw rentals by connecting women with rental agencies. We will also collaborate with government agencies to explore available subsidies and financial assistance, further reducing financial barriers and supporting women in building sustainable livelihoods.

During this step, we will foster collaboration with key ecosystem partners, including e- autorickshaw OEMs, dealers, and financing partners, to support women in acquiring e- autorickshaws for their operations.

Step 4 - Demonstration of the E-Autorickshaw Operations

In order to support the demonstration or the execution of the operations, we will support in the following ways:

• Demand based service mapping: Identify high demand zones such as schools, hospitals, and commercial hubs, positioning women drivers strategically to maximise earnings and ensure optimal service coverage during peak hours.
• Inclusion in the city transport system: Collaborate with the city transport and other departments to integrate women driven e-autos into existing last mile connectivity services, tourist circuits etc.
• Partnerships with ride hailing platforms: Work with Ola, Uber, and other local aggregators to onboard women drivers, ensuring access to steady customer base.
• Visibility and passenger awareness: Implement awareness campaigns to build public trust and encourage the use of women driven autos, emphasising safety, reliability, and inclusivity.

Through regular follow-ups and community-building activities we will ensure that the women drivers have ongoing support. A mentorship program will be established where trained women can connect with experienced drivers or other women in the program for guidance, emotional support, and practical advice.

Baseline measurement of the impact indicators will be established to enable accurate measurement and assessment of the program’s impact at its conclusion.

The project intends to create new economic opportunities for women in Mysuru by enabling them to operate e-autos, and build a sustainable source of income. The effort would align with the objective of enhancing financial independence among women through skill based employment. This collaboration can serve as a scalable model for women-led urban mobility, enhancing both livelihoods and sustainable transport solutions.

Some of the program KPIs include:

• The program will onboard a minimum of 40 women from in and around the Mysuru region to drive e-autorickshaws as their primary livelihood. The program will run for one year, with approximately six months dedicated to beneficiary identification and training for the entire batch. The training will cover both driving skills and essential life skills.
• At least 70% of participants are expected to secure a livelihood within three months of completing the training program. Their monthly earnings are projected to increase from a baseline of ₹5,000–₹10,000 to an estimated ₹15,000–₹25,000.
• The women beneficiaries will have access to government-provided life insurance, accident insurance, and health insurance schemes, which they may not have been able to obtain otherwise due to awareness barriers.
• At least 50% of participants will begin saving for their future through long-term savings options, such as the Public Provident Fund (PPF).