Rotary Club of Bilaspur Queens, RID 3261, in association with the Bilaspur Police, are helping destitute women in Chhattisgarh become self-reliant under an initiative named Pink Line. It is a global grant project, executed with RID 5300, USA and TRF, where electric rickshaws were given to 15 needy women in the first phase. The total cost was around $32,000, of which $10,000 was contributed from RID 3261’s DDF; $5,000 from the DDF of RID 5300; and RC Bilaspur Queens President Prerna Surana gave $1,270; the rest was matched by TRF. The initiative will help 75 underprivileged women to be financially stable, said Prerna.
The e-rickshaws were handed over to the women by PDG Vivek Tarkha, in the presence of DG Nikhilesh Trivedi, PDGs Harjit Singh Hura, Subhash Sahu and Rakesh Chaturvedi. PDGs Raghada Khoury and Michele Driebe from RID 5300 were also present. The women were given driving lessons and licences, and trained in self-defence skills by the police. To keep the women drivers’ identity distinct, the Bilaspur police have provided them with pink uniforms and is working on tie-ups with schools and colleges for pick-up and drop services, especially for girls and women.