Now, Karnataka Is Set to Make Bus Rides Free for Women
The Karnataka government has announced free bus rides for women commuters across the state. This initiative aligns with the Congress party’s promise to offer free bus transportation for women on government-operated buses, as stated in their election manifesto, before the assembly elections.
The official announcement is expected after the cabinet meeting scheduled for June 1. The Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, has verified that all women in the state will have the opportunity to travel on buses for free without any conditions.
During the initial Cabinet meeting of Karnataka’s newly-formed government on May 20, it was decided that the five guarantees pledged to voters in the Congress party’s poll manifesto would be put into action.
The chief minister, Mr Siddaramaiah, stated that the specifics of implementing these schemes would be addressed in the upcoming Cabinet meeting. The relevant departments have been instructed to release orders to initiate these schemes.
The growing demand for free bus transportation for women in the state corresponds to one of the promises made by Congress. They pledged to implement the “Shakti” scheme, enabling free travel for women on public transport buses across Karnataka.
Other proposals include the “Gruha Jyothi” scheme, which provides 200 units of free monthly electricity per household, and the “Gruha Lakshmi” scheme, offering ₹2,000 per month to female heads of households. The “Anna Bhagya” scheme would distribute 10kg of rice monthly to all members of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
Lastly, the “Yuva Nidhi” scheme aimed to provide unemployed graduates with ₹3,000 per month and unemployed diploma holders with ₹1,500 per month for two years (ages 18–25).
If put into action, the proposed initiatives will effectively address the needs of various segments of Karnataka’s population. By promoting inclusive growth, this initiative will contribute to the betterment of communities in Karnataka.
On May 25, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made an announcement stating that women commuters can now enjoy a 50% discount on all RSRTC buses, including express, deluxe, and ordinary roadway buses. Further encouraging women to travel on buses, Rajasthan Roadways buses allowed women and girls to travel free of charge on International Women’s Day, March 8.
