Advocacy for Easing Up the E-rickshaw Driving License in Lumbini Province

Bikalpa – an Alternative in collaboration with Unnat Neeti Institute organized multiple meetings and press meet with stakeholders in Lumbini Province to highlight the issues faced by e-rickshaw drivers of Lumbini Province.

As soon as Bikalpa team reached to Bhairawaha, Lumbini Province, they along with Unnat Neeti Institute team met and handover the delegation paper to Chairman, Physical Infrastructure and Development Committee of Lumbini Pradesh Hon. Ramji Prashad Ghimire on 30th October 2025. While receiving the memorandum, Chairman Ghimire stated that ‘he will initiate the discussion of e-rickshaw license obtaining issue in his parliamentary committee and he is committed to address the issue of city rickshaw driver’s because it’s the issue of livelihood and employment of low income generating people and their families. He also further mentioned the necessary action must be taken to ensure the safety of passengers of Lumbini Province. He added, “The province government will take necessary legal steps to simplify the licensing process for the illiterate e-rickshaw drivers in Lumbini Pradesh”. He acknowledged the recent Koshi Provincial Government amendment to the Provincial Vehicle and Transport Management Regulation 2082, that says “city rickshaw drivers in Koshi Province will no longer be required to take a written exam to obtain a license”. And he added that Lumbini province government must solve the issue of e-rickshaw drivers who’s providing services to many passengers.

On 31st October 2025, Bikalpa an Alternative and Unnat Neeti Institute handover the delegation paper to Member of Physical Infrastructure and Development Committee of Lumbini Province Hon. Khadag Basnet. While receiving the memorandum, Basnet mentioned that despite meeting e-rickshaw drivers in daily basis, their issues were unnoticed but this meeting helped him to become informed about e-rickshaw driver’s issues to obtain licenses and risk of being unlicensed. He was positive to raise this issue in his committee and concerned stakeholders in the provincial government to simplify the licensing process for the illiterate e-rickshaw drivers in Lumbini Pradesh”.

On 31st October 2025, Bikalpa – an Alternative and Unnat Neeti Institute jointly organized a press meet at Bhairahawa to address the issue of driving licenses for e-rickshaw drivers in Lumbini Province. The meeting was facilitated by Mr. Suresh Sapkota, Founder and Executive Director of Unnat Neeti Institute, outlining the relevance of the event to confront the challenges that threaten the sustainability of the growing e-rickshaw. Sapkota begin with presenting the data and infographics of the survey conducted with e-rickshaw drivers that highlighted the scenario of e-rickshaw in Lumbini Province. The data also indicated that out of 251 respondent, 79.015% of e-rickshaw drivers do not have license. Adding to this, Mr. Basanta Adhikari, Founder and Executive Director of Bikalpa an Alternative shared the objective of the event and the challenge faced by e-rickshaw drivers for not having driving license. He also shared the case stories of e-rickshaw drivers who were in jail due to lack of license. He also urged everyone to raise their voice in this issue to sensitize the public and policymakers. The press meet was participared by 12 journalists from various media houses, whose active participation and insightful questions made the discussion engaging and impactful. The interaction highlighted the need for inclusive policy reforms to ensure the rights and dignity of e-rickshaw drivers whereas the need to aware drivers about traffic rules to make the urban transportation more safe.

On 1st November 2025, Bikalpa – an Alternative in collaboration with Unnat Neeti Institute successfully organized a press meet at Butwal to address the issue of driving licenses for e-rickshaw drivers in Lumbini Province. The press meet included 5 journalists from various media houses, whose active participation and insightful questions made the discussion engaging and impactful. Mr. Basanta Adhikari, Founder and Executive Director of Bikalpa an Alternative and Mr. Suresh Sapkota, Founder and Executive Director of Unnat Neeti Institute shared the objective of the event and the challenge faced by e-rickshaw drivers for not having driving license. Adhikari also shared the case stories of e-rickshaw drivers who were in jail due to lack of license. He also urged everyone to raise their voice in this issue to sensitize the public and policymakers. The interaction highlighted the need for inclusive policy reforms to ensure the rights and dignity of e-rickshaw drivers.

On 2nd November 2025, Bikalpa – an Alternative in collaboration with Unnat Neeti Institute successfully organized a press meet at Dang to address the issue of driving licenses for e-rickshaw drivers in Lumbini Province. The meeting was facilitated by Mr. Keshab Bhusal, Province Coordinator of NGO Federation of Nepal, outlining the relevance of the event to confront the challenges that threaten the sustainability of the growing e-rickshaw. Bhusal begin with presenting the data and infographics of the survey conducted with e-rickshaw drivers that highlighted the scenario of e-rickshaw in Lumbini Province. Adding to this, Mr. Basanta Adhikari, Founder and Executive Director of Bikalpa an Alternative shared the objective of the event and the challenge faced by e-rickshaw drivers for not having driving license. Adhikari also shared the case stories of e-rickshaw drivers who were in jail due to lack of license. He also urged everyone to raise their voice in this issue to sensitize the public and policymakers. The press meet included 10 journalists from various media houses, whose active participation and insightful questions made the discussion engaging and impactful. One of the Journalists mentioned that the government doesn’t think about management before the problem arises. He also added the need to regulate and manage e-rickshaw, analysing the growth of it.

During the press meet held on 2nd November 2025, at Dang, Lumbini Province, Bikalpa-an Alternative team met and handed over the delegation letter to Province Coordinator of NGO Federation of Nepal, Keshab Bhusal. Mr. Basanta Adhikari, Founder and Executive Director of Bikalpa an Alternative highlighted the challenge faced by e-rickshaw drivers for not having driving license. Adhikari also shared the case stories of e-rickshaw drivers who were in jail due to lack of license. Mr. Bhusal acknowledged these challenges as well as facilitated the press meet at Dang. He also emphasized that the concern stakeholders must simplify the license process and provide essential support to manage it.

On 2nd November 2025, Bikalpa an Alternative team met and handover the delegation paper to Under Secretary, Physical Infrastructure and Development Committee of Lumbini Pradesh, Mr. Lokmani Pandey on the behalf of Honourable Speaker of Province Assembly, Lumbini Province. While receiving the memorandum, Pandey stated that he noticed e-rickshaw drivers problems in the past while working as a lawyer and he’s very interested to contribute in solving their issues. He also mentioned that the necessary action must be taken to ease the license obtaining process. He also demanded detailed research findings in this topic to discuss in his committee. He acknowledged the recent Koshi Provincial Government amendment to the Provincial Vehicle and Transport Management Regulation 2082, that says “city rickshaw drivers in Koshi Province will no longer be required to take a written exam to obtain a license”.

On 3rd November 2025, Bikalpa an Alternative team met and handover the delegation paper to Hon. Prachanda Bikram Neupane, Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport of Lumbini Province. While receiving the memorandum, Hon. Neupane was informed about the issues faced by e-rickshaw drivers who’re soul of urban transportation and are providing services to many passengers. He stated that he’s concerned about the low income generating e-rickshaw drivers who’re also illiterate and he will make possible changes to ease their licence obtaining process. He also mentioned that this issue must be solved from federal level to avoid conflict of Transportation Act with province. He also demanded detailed research findings to analysis in this topic. He acknowledged the recent Koshi Provincial Government amendment to the Provincial Vehicle and Transport Management Regulation 2082, that says “city rickshaw drivers in Koshi Province will no longer be required to take a written exam to obtain a license”.

Beside this, Bikalpa team took video interview with e-rickshaw commuters and e-rickshaw drivers to shift public discourse on e-rickshaws towards dignity, liberty, mobility, and sustainability, while mobilizing public support for necessary policy reforms.

Here’s the media coverage of Press meet at Bhairahawa, Butwal and Dang:

https://hamrolumbininews.com/?p=11241