The Karnataka’s Congress government awakened its first poll guaranteed scheme ‘The Shakti’ on last Sunday, this scheme provides free travel service to transgender people and women throughout the state in buses that are controlled by the government.
According to officers, the free travel service scheme would benefit 41.8 lakh women commuters every day and the estimated cost for the year is around 4,052.56 crore rupees.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, deputy CM DK Shivakumar and the transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy initiated the program and issued the smart cards to five women passengers at Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore. A replica of the smart card was given to the women passengers which would be handed over to all the women in another three months.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took the role of bus conductor and issued zero value tickets to the women commuters at Kempegowda bus stop, who were traveling to Dharmasthala. The Ministers and Legislators in charge of different districts launched the scheme and issued free tickets to the female passengers.
Siddaramaiah made a statement after the launch of the scheme that the free travel service was initiated to bring social equality and also to benefit women, deprived classes and the minorities of the state. He also said that the participation of women in India is less when compared to other countries and this scheme would boost the women participation in the workforce of the Indian economy.
Adding to his statement, he said that the first guarantee was launched within 20 days of the announcement and women started enjoying the benefits of this scheme. He says that their main objective is to improve the sufferings of the people in Karnataka.
DK Shivakumar said, “Women are considered as the eyes of the family and they are given the first priority in Indian culture. This Shakti scheme has been implemented as the ideal of women empowerment”.
Ramalinga Reddy, the transport Minister while briefing about the Shakthi scheme to people said that the main aim of the free travel service is to ensure safe and easy travel to women passengers. He also said that the smart cards would be granted in three months, people can apply and own the free travel smart cards after three months. Rural people who don’t have access to the internet can reach out to help centers.
The Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made a tweet and affirmed that this party has fulfilled their commitments. “Congress government will fulfill all the responsibilities, free bus travel scheme is launched in Karnataka on Sunday to empower women”.
The Shakti scheme is accessible to all women and transgender people, who are residents of Karnataka. They can travel in express and general services that are operated by Road transport Corporations. Free travel service for women will be available in 4 state RTCs such as BMTC, NWKRTC, KSRTC and KKRTC. This scheme is not applicable to Airavat, Airavat Gold Class, Airavat Club Class, Ambari, Ambari Utsav, Ambari Dream Class, Vayu Vajra, Vajra, Rajahamsa, Non-AC Sleeper, EV Power Plus AC buses and Fly Bus.
50% of the seats are reserved for men in all the Road Transport Corporations excluding BMTC bus services.
Women can obtain Shakti smart cards by registering in the government portal ‘Seva Sindhu’. Till then, they can travel free of cost by carrying government ID cards with the domicile information in it.
