We at Patiala Foundation have been working on a livelihood project Patiala GreenCABS under which we are providing new ECO Friendly cycle rickshaws to persons who are already plying the same or who wish to start the same in the state of Punjab with a prime motive that after a certain period of time the traction driver can become the owner of the same and develop a Banking habit.We are providing him the Patiala GreenCABS with a package of Uniform sets,Insurance ,membership ID Card,MC permit etc. and the rickshaws are of new improved design which are lighter in weight hence they are easy to ply without using any wood and are ECO Friendly fitted with seat belts for the safety of the passengers and more luggage space with add on items on it.The Beneficiaries are linked to the Banks and are facilitated in getting the assets used for their livelihood financed from nationalized Banks under the DRI scheme and a no frill Bank account alongwith above said related incentives like Medical insurance,uniform,ID cards etc.
Sir,as a pilot project we have started these Patiala GreenCABS in one zone of the city on 27th October 2010 and the first fleet of 10 Patiala GreenCABS was flagged off by S.Gurinder Singh Grewal I.A.S.Divisional Commissioner Patiala Division.The Second batch of 20 Patiala GreenCABS was flagged off by the Deputy Commissioner Patiala on 18.04.2011 .
Since as a society on its own has certain limitations of funds for imparting new Patiala GreenCABS .
We have signed an MOU with the State Bank of Patiala under which the traction drivers shall be financed by the bank under DRI scheme @ 4% for Owning a Patiala GreenCABS,Inaddition to the above we have also signed an MOU with the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board to train the eligible traction drivers as tourist guides of the city of Patiala so that they can work as guides alongwith traction drivers and thus enhancing their income and also imparting knowledge about our numerous heritage monuments.The first batch of training was completed on 21stAugust 2011 and we have successfully started a a Patiala GreenCABS Heritage Route for the city thrum our trainees which has enhanced their monthly income.We started a Patiala Gedhi for the same.
We at Patiala Foundation till date have initiated 115 Patiala GreenCABS and the beneficiaries are linked to the banks and are adding more, in addition to the 115 GreenCABS we have also distributed thru various public functions 288 Rickshaw rehris to the SC/BPL beneficiaries in association with the Govt.Of Punjab Scheme for their betterment and scope of their livelihood .We have also launched the project at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and have started a free Ecocabs shuttle service for Civil Hospital Nawanshahr.We are part of the First Non Motorized Society (NMT Society) of the state of Punjab at SBS Nagar.We have been closely working with the families of these traction drivers and have held medical check up camps and free service camps for them.The entire details can be had from our website and Blog .The efforts of the organisation have helped bagged us recognition in the IITF at pragati Maidan as Punjab bagged the silver medal .Our Efforts were recognised by the District Administration and we were awarded twice(15th August and 26thJanuary) the prestigious District Awards in the field of Social Service.We have been adjudged thrice runners up for the Mobile for Good Awards 2011,2012 & 2013 by Vodafone and Digital Empowerment Foundation(D.E.F.) We have also been appreciated of being recognized by Grand jury as Runners Up by mBillionth Award South Asia 2014.We also received the prestigious Community Heroes Awards by Yes Foundation in collaboration with Yes Bank for the Year 2014.We have been since the inception of Patiala Foundation in 2009 been working with and for the community and our only objective is to serve the community and its people.