Taken for a ride: Beneficiaries of e-rickshaw scheme feel cheated
They thought they were lucky to have once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive e-rickshaws from no less a person than the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. But barely two days after the much-hyped distribution of e-rickshaws under a scheme, 51 beneficiaries of the scheme are feeling cheated.
The recipients of the e-rickshaw alleged that the finance company assigned to transfer the vehicles in their names has gone back on the promise made to them by PM at the time of distribution.
One of the beneficiaries from Sector 10, Arun Singh, said he was told to deposit Rs 1,610 every week at the time of getting possession of e-rickshaw. But now, the company has raised the amount of instalment to a whopping Rs 4,700 per week. He called it a blackmail.
This is not all. The beneficiaries are made to run from pillar to post for booking their e-rickshaws.
Another beneficiary, Amit Kumar, a resident of Sector 9, said when he visited the office of Bhartiya Micro Credit finance company (BMC) he was turned back by the officials. They told him that they won’t entertain him unless he comes in a group of at least five candidates.
He is clueless about how to approach four other fellow beneficiaries to form a group of five to meet the criterion of the company to start the process of booking the eco-friendly vehicle.
The candidates alleged that every time they approach the company for their promised gift, it comes up with a new rule and a new plan confusing them further.
Despite efforts by the City Spidey, Sudhir Agarwal, a key official of the BMC, could not be contacted for comment.
However, one of his colleagues disclosed, on condition of anonymity, that the rate of e-rickshaws is the same. But after adding up the cost of registration, license and insurance, the on-road price of the vehicle goes up manifold. The current on road price of e-rickshaw is Rs 1.33 lakh.
The company offers three payment options to buy an e-rickshaw. Zero down payment, Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000 down payments.
