E-rickshaw owners to get one-time ₹5,000 relief: Kejriwal

The Delhi government on Monday decided to extend its scheme of one-time ₹5,000 assistance to each para-transit vehicle driver during the Covid-19-induced lockdown to cover e-rickshaw owners.

The decision was taken in the first meeting of the Delhi cabinet during the lockdown and it was chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"We are giving ₹5,000 to the PSV (public service vehicle) badge holding drivers in Delhi during the lockdown. We got information that thousands of e-rickshaw drivers do not have PSV badges. The cabinet decided today to provide ₹5,000 assistance amount to all such e-rickshaw owners," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

The decision will benefit more than 60,000 permit holders of para-transit vehicles and owners of e-rickshaws registered in Delhi, the government said in a statement.

Under the existing scheme, the Delhi government is approving one-time financial assistance of ₹5,000 to every para-transit vehicle driver holding a PSV badge in Delhi.

"The Cabinet today approved to extend the scheme to every permit holder of para-transit vehicle in Delhi as well as owners of e-rickshaws registered in Delhi," said the government statement.

Permit holders of para-transit vehicles who were also holding PSV badges have already been covered under the existing scheme.

Delhi Transport minister Kailash Gahlot thanked the chief minister for the decision in a tweet, saying he hoped the financial help will provide relief to e-rickshaw owners and permit holders of para transit vehicles.

The para transit vehicles include auto rickshaws, taxis, Gramin Sew, Eco Sewa, Phatphat Sewa vehicles of last mile connectivity.