The Congress government in Karnataka fulfilled its promise on Sunday by launching the ‘Shakti’ scheme, the first of its five poll guarantees. The scheme offers free bus rides within the state for women and transgender individuals on buses operated by the state-run transport corporations.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar inaugurated the scheme at the Kempegowda Bus Terminal in Bengaluru. They distributed ‘zero-value’ tickets to five women passengers named Sumitra, Radha, Prema, Kalavathi, and Pavithra. The first bus under the new scheme was flagged off, heading to the temple town of Dharmasthala. The initial beneficiaries of the scheme received replicas of the smart cards that will be issued in the next three months to women passengers.
To avail themselves of the scheme until the smart cards are issued, beneficiaries can use any government identification as proof of residency. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed that the scheme was launched simultaneously at 1 pm across all district headquarters of the state.
The implementation of the Shakti scheme is estimated to cost over Rs 4,000 crore annually. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will have to add 4,028 buses to its fleet to successfully accommodate the scheme, according to a report submitted by the transport department.
Under the scheme, transport corporations such as the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, BMTC, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation will calculate the total distance traveled by women passengers using the smart cards. The government will reimburse these corporations based on the distance covered by beneficiaries.
It is important to note that the scheme does not apply to air-conditioned and luxury buses. Additionally, it reserves 50 percent of seats for men in three transport corporations, except BMTC.
During the launch event, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasized the economic benefits of such welfare schemes. The total expenditure for the five guarantees announced by the Congress government, including Shakti, is expected to reach around Rs 59,000 crore. Siddaramaiah highlighted that the focus should not be on the amount spent but on whom it is spent. He emphasized the positive impact of putting money in the hands of the poor, as it circulates in the economy and contributes to market growth.
Schemes like Shakti aim to boost female labor participation, which currently stands at around 24 percent in India. Siddaramaiah pointed out the higher rates of female labor participation in countries like Australia (65 percent), Indonesia (53 percent), and Bangladesh (30 percent). He expressed hope that the Shakti scheme would empower women and gradually reduce economic and social inequalities.
The launch of the Shakti scheme in Karnataka represents a significant step towards gender empowerment and inclusive public transportation. The initiative not only supports women’s mobility but also contributes to the economic development of the state by promoting greater female labor force participation.
Sources By Agencies
