Intrepid Travel has launched an initiative in the Indian city of Varanasi, helping women to enter the workforce in the country’s male-dominated rickshaw industry.
The Intrepid Foundation, Intrepid’s non-profit arm, has invested more than £28,000 in the new Holy City Rickshaw Programme to help put “women in the driving seat”.
The scheme will train women to drive and maintain e-rickshaws for city tours and support their financial and business literacy.
The 10 female-led e-rickshaw tours will be incorporated into several of Intrepid’s India trip itineraries, providing a greener mode of transport for travellers to explore local neighbourhoods and interact with the community.
The initiative is a collaboration with India-based Access Development Services, which helps marginalised communities through economic and social development programmes.
The electric rickshaws will also help reduce air pollution in Varanasi, which has been listed by the World Health Organisation as being among the most polluted in the world.
Rama Mahendru, general manager for India at Intrepid Travel, said: “The e-rickshaw initiative reflects Intrepid’s ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism and empowering women in the local community.
“The project aims to support greater female economic inclusion in India, where women still contribute only around 18% to the country’s overall GDP, despite making up 48% of the population.
“Women make up nearly one-third of our local team in India, and by 2025, we hope to double the number of tour leaders countrywide.”
This latest initiative follows the success of Access Development’s first female-focused rickshaw programme in Jaipur, India, in 2017.
Seven years on, the drivers continue to offer city tours on Intrepid’s 13-Day India Women’s Expedition and 15-Day Rajasthan Experience.
The new Holy City e-rickshaw tours will be incorporated on six of Intrepid Travel’s popular India itineraries: North India Highlights, Premium India, Indian Getaway, Real Delhi to Kathmandu, Delhi to Kathmandu and North India Revealed.
Vipin Sharma, chief executive of Access Development Services, added: “The Holy City Rickshaw Project…promotes women’s economic empowerment, builds their social capital by giving women an opportunity to own a part of the company, and supports the environment through the usage of electric rickshaws.”
Biheng Zhang, general manager of The Intrepid Foundation, commented: “Not only will it create new opportunities for women, but it helps promote sustainable travel and tourism in the region.”