New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, in collaboration with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), organised a National Workshop on Promoting Micromobility through Electric Bicycles on Monday. The workshop, themed Electric Bicycles Powering Rural Livelihoods, explored how electric micromobility solutions can enhance rural mobility, support livelihoods and promote sustainable development.
The event was attended by Union Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan, senior officials from central ministries, state governments, State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), industry representatives, development partners, research institutions, technology providers and women members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Addressing the gathering, Paswan emphasised that affordable, safe and reliable mobility is essential for strengthening rural livelihoods. He highlighted the need for stronger institutional collaboration among ministries, states, industry and development partners to scale up electric micromobility solutions. According to him, improved mobility can significantly enhance livelihood opportunities, especially for women linked with Self-Help Groups and initiatives such as the Lakhpati Didi programme under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
During the workshop, the STREE Impact Assessment Report was launched, documenting implementation experiences and evidence from pilot states. Women from SHGs in these states were also felicitated as “Energy Champions” for their role in adopting and promoting electric micromobility solutions.
Speaking at the event, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, said the initiative on sustainable transport for rural entrepreneurs through electric bicycles is both timely and impactful. He noted that such solutions can improve mobility for rural entrepreneurs while contributing to environmentally friendly transport systems.
A major attraction of the workshop was the “Know Your Electric Bicycle” live demonstration, where cargo electric bicycles and their livelihood-based applications were showcased. The minister also interacted with SHG women beneficiaries from pilot states to understand the practicality and suitability of the products in rural settings.
The workshop built on lessons from the STREE (Sustainable Transport for Rural Entrepreneurs through Electric Bicycles) pilot project, implemented by CESL in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development across Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The pilot demonstrated that access to affordable electric cargo bicycles can reduce physical drudgery, improve market access and strengthen women-led livelihood activities.
Three thematic panel discussions were also held during the programme. The first panel examined opportunities to expand India’s electric bicycle ecosystem, focusing on manufacturing, demand generation and rural service networks. The second discussed policy convergence across ministries to support affordable and reliable electric micromobility solutions. The third panel highlighted the role of electric bicycles in advancing rural livelihoods, climate action and sustainable rural transitions.
The workshop reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to inclusive livelihoods, women’s economic empowerment and environmentally sustainable mobility, highlighting electric bicycles as a scalable and people-centric solution for rural and semi-urban India.
