Odisha unveils Ama Subahaka Yojana to train and fund 1,100 women as taxi drivers, offering loans up to ₹10 lakh and EV incentives for green transport
(OdishaPlus Bureau)
In an initiative aimed at empowering women and enhancing employment opportunities, the Odisha government has unveiled the Ama Subahaka Yojana, a program specifically designed to assist women in becoming professional taxi drivers and entrepreneurs in the transportation industry.
As part of this initiative, 1,100 women will be provided with financial support over a span of four years to acquire vehicles for use as taxis. Each qualified woman will have the opportunity to secure a bank loan of up to ₹10 lakh, which is to be repaid over a period of five years. The government will subsidize the interest at a rate of 11% per annum.
The implementation of the scheme will occur in phases, commencing with 200 women receiving vehicles in the first year. Additionally, women opting for electric vehicles (EVs) will be eligible for an extra incentive of ₹2 lakh to promote environmentally friendly transportation.
This program is aimed at women aged between 21 and 40, and currently, 6,216 women in Odisha have successfully completed driving training. The initiative seeks to encourage financial independence among women while also advancing sustainable transport solutions.