The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a major step towards women’s empowerment with the One Family, One Entrepreneur scheme, enabling 1,000 women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to become drivers in collaboration with Rapido, India’s leading bike-taxi and auto-rickshaw aggregator.

The initiative, rolled out by the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), aims to transform women from urban poor households into entrepreneurs and breadwinners. By partnering with Rapido, the scheme provides electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers to SHG women and their families, giving them an opportunity to participate in the growing urban mobility and gig economy sector.

Launched in March, the collaboration has already seen 1,000 women take to the driver’s seat, marking a significant step in the State’s drive for inclusive growth and gender equality. The government envisions this initiative as a pathway to economic independence for women and their families, while also contributing to environment-friendly transport solutions.

The scheme is designed around the principle of “One Family, One Entrepreneur”, ensuring that at least one member in every family—particularly women from disadvantaged backgrounds—has access to a sustainable livelihood. Through this, the programme not only enhances women’s participation in the workforce but also provides financial stability for entire households.

Rapido’s platform plays a critical role by offering market linkages and access to passengers, ensuring that the women drivers have steady income opportunities. The use of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers reduces fuel costs, boosts savings, and aligns with the State’s push for green transport.

Beyond economic benefits, the scheme empowers women with mobility, confidence, and independence. Many of the beneficiaries, who had limited or no prior access to formal jobs, now find themselves at the forefront of a transformative social shift where women are visible participants in public spaces.

The initiative also reflects a broader trend in India’s women-centric development programmes, where governments are combining skill training, financial support, and corporate partnerships to create scalable models of empowerment. In Andhra Pradesh, the scheme’s impact is expected to go beyond urban areas, inspiring similar efforts in rural regions where SHGs have long been catalysts for community development.

Women beneficiaries have expressed optimism that this opportunity will help them support their children’s education, healthcare needs, and household expenses. By becoming drivers on Rapido’s platform, they are not only breaking gender barriers but also rewriting narratives of women’s roles in society.

The success of the One Family, One Entrepreneur scheme is likely to encourage expansion, with scope for more partnerships with mobility companies, micro-finance institutions, and electric vehicle manufacturers. It also complements national initiatives focused on women-led development, entrepreneurship, and sustainable transport solutions.

In many ways, this initiative is not just about creating women drivers but about driving social change—showing how access to resources, training, and opportunities can empower women to take charge of their own futures while uplifting their families and communities.

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