Lok Sabha Question No. 4073 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Sustainable Transport for Rural Entrepreneurs
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri B K Parthasarathi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4073 ANSWERED ON 25/03/2025

## SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURS

## 4073. SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details and number of States in which Sustainable Transport  for  Rural  Entrepreneurs  through  Electric  bicycles (STREE) pilot programme is being implemented;
- (b) the details and number of e-bicycles planned to be distributed and the number of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) going to benefit as a part of this programme, State-wise;
- (c) the details of funds sanctioned and released for this programme, State-wise; and
- (d) the number of training sessions targeted to be held under this programme, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)

- (a): Energy  Efficiency  Services  Limited  (EESL),  a  joint  venture under  the  Ministry  of  Power,  through  its  100%  subsidiary  CESL (Convergence  Energy  Services  Limited)  which  focuses  on  electric mobility and charging infrastructure have collaborated with Ministry of Rural Development for a pilot project titled Sustainable Transport for  Rural  Entrepreneurs  through  Electric  Bicycles  (STREE),  which involves distribution of cargo electric cycles to  SHG  women entrepreneurs across four states - Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Andhra  Pradesh.
- (b): The  details  of  States  along  with  the  number  of  electric bicycles  planned  to  be  distributed  is  provided  in  the  table  below which will benefit 1800 SHG women entrepreneurs:

| Sl. No.   | States         |   Number of Cargo Electric Bicycles (Unit) under process of distribution |
|-----------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Kerala         |                                                                      600 |
| 2         | Bihar          |                                                                      500 |
| 3         | Andhra Pradesh |                                                                      400 |
| 4         | Madhya Pradesh |                                                                      300 |
|           | Total          |                                                                     1800 |

- (c): Funds  are  not  sanctioned  or  released  to  EESL/CESL  by  the Government  of  India  or  any  State  Government  under  this  pilot project (STREE). However, the pilot is being implemented with the grant support from Global Environment Facility (GEF) fund administered  by  Asian  Development  Bank  (ADB)  for  1800  cargo electric bicycles as initial pilot.
- (d): Only  one  training  session  is  targeted  to  be  held  for  SHG members (energy champions) with the support of IIT Bombay, the details are under:

| State          | Technical Training to SHG Members (Energy Champions)   | Technical Training to SHG Members (Energy Champions)   | Remark                            |
|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|                | Place Training                                         | of Number of Energy Champions                          |                                   |
| Bihar          | Patna Muzaffarpur                                      | 28 22                                                  | The training has been             |
| Andhra Pradesh | Kuppam                                                 | 50                                                     | conducted                         |
| Madhya Pradesh | Sehore                                                 | 50                                                     | The training is in                |
| Kerela         | Palakkad Kannur                                        | 50                                                     | targeted to be held next quarter. |

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