The Karnataka Transport Minister Mr. Ramalinga Reddy has maintained that the Shakti scheme, which offers free travel to all women in the State who use non-luxury government buses, will continue.
He was dispelling rumors making rounds on social media that the project would be discontinued after Lok Sabha elections. And there is Congress leader M. Lakshman, who lost Lok Sabha election from Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency had wrote letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking review of implementation of guarantee schemes in state.
“The mandate of people for continuance of guarantee system has been against it”, said Mr. Lakshman. “In Karnataka they need to be reviewed and limited only for needy and poor,” he added.
On this note, Mr. Reddy responded saying; “It was not done with a view to garnering votes”. We will not discontinue the Shakti scheme anyways. The Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi led by BJP caused inflation leading to suffering among citizens therefore our guarantee schemes were launched to assist especially those who are poor or belong to middle class.”
When we talked to The Hindu, Mr. Reddy said that this Shakti program remains one of its most successful initiatives aimed at benefiting countless number of women across all corners in Karnataka State,” he explained further adding that “As long as our Congress government is here then, every year ₹5,500 crore is set aside from a budget for the same purpose.”
Congress articulated out Shakti scheme as part of five guarantees in their 2023 manifesto during Karnataka Assembly Elections. Among these guarantees laid down by Congress Party including Shakti Scheme (because), some believe that these contributed in no small way towards giving congress a comfortable margin required for forming a government in Karnataka.
On May 20th 2023 when first cabinet held its meeting after formation, it decided that five guarantees promised by congress party in its election manifesto shall be implemented.
In the following cabinet meeting of 2nd June 2023, all five guarantees were decided to be implemented during that fiscal year, starting with Shakti Scheme on 11th June 2023.
Non-premium state-run bus services will provide free transport for women and transgenders anywhere in Karnataka under this scheme.
Only domicile women of Karnataka are eligible for the free travel scheme. Women can avail general and express bus services of the State Road Transport Corporations as a part of the inside state by means of any ID card containing photograph address issued by Central or State Government and get ‘zero ticket’ (free ticket) from conductor.
A total number of 225,15,97,273 women passengers travelled freely in RTC buses from 11th June 2023 to 9th June 2024. The cost in terms of state exchequer amounted Rs 5481,40,62,803 during this period.
