‘Shakti’ for women: Free bus travel scheme rolled out in Karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, June 11, launched the first among five poll guarantees, ‘Shakti’: a scheme which offers women free travel in non-premiere services offered by State–run Road Transport Corporations (RTCs).

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, June 11, launched the first among five poll guarantees, ‘Shakti’: a scheme which offers women free travel in non-premiere services offered by State–run Road Transport Corporations (RTCs).

Mr. Siddaramaiah along with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy launched the scheme and also issued smart cards to five beneficiaries at the event held on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

Mr. Siddaramaiah took on the role of a bus conductor, issuing free tickets to women passengers in Majestic bus station. He issued the tickets to women passengers who were travelling from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that in India, women’s participation in the workforce was shrinking. “Women represented only 24% of India’s formal and informal workforce and since 2014, their participation has been shrinking. The Shakti scheme will help women to be part of the workforce and will contribute to the development of the State and the country,” the chief minister said.

Meanwhile, the district in-charge ministers and legislators simultaneously launched the scheme in their respective districts and constituencies.

The State government will issue the ‘Shakti Smart Card’ after receiving applications from women, including students, through the Seva Sindhu portal. Until then, it has asked RTCs to accept any identity card issued by Central or State government that carries the photograph and address of the beneficiary to issue ‘zero ticket’ (free ticket). The government has directed the issuance of smart cards to be completed within three months.