18-Year-Old E-Rickshaw Driver from Uttar Pradesh Receives the Amal Clooney Women Empowerment Award

An 18-year-old e-rickshaw driver named Arti from Uttar Pradesh was recognised with the Amal Clooney Women’s Empowerment Award. Arti, from Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh was honoured with this prestigious award at the hands of King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

Arti, a single mother with a 5-year-old daughter, drives a pink e-rickshaw which has enabled her to not only be financially independent but also play a role in ensuring safety of female passengers in her village.

The award ceremony was held in the iconic Buckingham Palace, where Arti arrived in her pink e-rickshaw.

“Arti’s determination to create a safer world for her daughter and her relentless efforts in a traditionally male-dominated field exemplifies the spirit of resilience and empowerment we seek to celebrate,” said Amal Clooney, Human Rights Lawyer, during the award ceremony.

Amal Clooney Women’s Empowerment Award

The Amal Clooney Women’s Empowerment Award is an accolade that was established with the purpose of recognising remarkable women that have made major contributions in the field of women’s empowerment and gender equality. It is named after the renowned British international human rights lawyer, Amal Clooney.

The award does not come with any geographic restrictions for its nomination or selection process. It is sponsored by the British Charity Prince Trust International, founded by King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales.

Arti was recipient of this award for her work through the Pink E-rickshaw initiative of the government, through which she is inspiring young girls in her locality to become strong and independent.

What is E-Rickshaw Initiative?

The government of Uttar Pradesh launched Mission Shakti in 2020 in order to empower women in the state with focus on safety, security, and self-reliance. The initiative provides a secure platform for women where they can learn, get skilled for various vocations, and access different livelihood schemes. In this manner, the women can transform their lives and become self-reliant and productive members of the society.

As part of this mission, the Government of Uttar Pradesh had launched Pink E-rickshaw scheme, wherein women are provided training to drive e-rickshaws and navigate traffic rules and regulations. Once they receive the necessary training, the scheme also help women with getting e-rickshaws at a low-interest rate loan, along with a subsidy of Rs. 49,500.

Arti was introduced to this initiative under Project Leher, launched by Prince’s Trust International in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation.