Intrepid Travel has launched a new initiative in the Indian city of Varanasi, empowering women to enter the workforce in the country’s male-dominated rickshaw industry.
The Intrepid Foundation, Intrepid’s nonprofit, has invested AU$55,000 in the brand-new Holy City Rickshaw Program, which will train women to drive and maintain e-rickshaws for city tours and support with financial and business literacy.
The 10 female-led e-rickshaw tours will be incorporated into several of Intrepid’s India trip itineraries, providing a greener mode of transport for travellers to explore local neighbourhoods and interact with the community.
The initiative collaborates with the India-based grassroots NGO ACCESS Development Services, empowering marginalised communities through innovative economic and social development programs. The Holy City Rickshaw Program has already recruited at least 50 women, providing them with aspirational employment opportunities and a sustainable source of income.
In line with Intrepid’s global efforts to decarbonise tourism, the electric rickshaws will also help reduce air pollution in Varanasi, which has been listed by by the World Health Organization as being amongst the worst air quality cities in the world.
Rama Mahendru, General Manager for India at Intrepid Travel said: “The e-rickshaw initiative reflects Intrepid’s ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism and empowering women in the local community. The project aims to support greater female economic inclusion in India, where women still contribute only around 18% to the country’s overall GDP, despite making up 48% of the population.”
“At Intrepid, we’re committed to not only advocating for women’s inclusion but actively implementing it. We’re working hard to achieve balanced female tour leadership and enhance gender diversity. Today, women make up nearly 1/3 of our local team in India, and by 2025, we hope to double the number of tour leaders country wide. As we move towards our goal of increasing women participation in the tourism industry, we’re excited to continue showcasing the best of India and creating unforgettable memories for our guests.”
This latest initiative builds on the success of ACCESS Development’s first female-focused rickshaw program in Jaipur, India, launched in 2017. Since then, over 200 women from low-income households have trained to become full-time rickshaw drivers and continue to offer city tours on Intrepid’s 13-Day India Women’s Expedition and 15-Day Rajasthan Experience.
The new Holy City e-rickshaw tours will be incorporated on six of Intrepid Travel’s popular India itineraries: 10-Day North India Highlights, 10-Day Premium India, 11-Day Indian Getaway, 15-Day Real Delhi to Kathmandu, 15-Day Delhi to Kathmandu and 22-Day North India Revealed.
Vipin Sharma, CEO of ACCESS Development Services said: “The Holy City Rickshaw Project seeks to accomplish a three-pillared approach. It promotes women’s economic empowerment, builds their social capital by giving women an opportunity to own a part of the company, and supports the environment through the usage of electric rickshaws. Through this programme, we hope to accomplish the Prime Minister’s vision through the Lakhpati Didi scheme, facilitating economic empowerment for underprivileged households in the city.”
Biheng Zhang, General Manager of The Intrepid Foundation added: “We’re always looking for ways to create real, lasting change, and The Holy City Rickshaw project does just that. Not only will it create new opportunities for women, but it helps promote sustainable travel and tourism in the region. We know that an investment in women has benefits that flow throughout the wider community and onto the next generation, and as we look forward, I’m excited about what this initiative will bring to both the women involved and the travellers who will get to experience Varanasi through their eyes.”
Gender equality is central to The Intrepid Foundation’s mission and reflected by its partners – from supporting girls’ education in Morocco to creating job opportunities for women in Kenya, Peru and Georgia. Intrepid Travel absorbs all administration costs so that 100% of donations can go directly to community causes. Each of Intrepid’s 900+ itineraries are aligned to a local or global partner and in 2024, the company is matching public donations dollar for dollar.
Intrepid Travel has been operating in India since 1999. The company opened its local office in Delhi in 2006, which currently employs 89 staff and tour leaders. Intrepid operates 25 trips in India ranging from 3-39 days with over 900 tour departures each year. As part of the company’s 2030 strategy, Intrepid has set a goal to welcome 30,000 customers to India, over 300% in customer growth, to promote its style of small-group immersive, authentic and community-based travel in the country.
