The Shakti scheme, providing free travel for women on non-luxury KSRTC buses, was one of the five guarantees the Congress had made ahead of the May 2023 Assembly polls.
Published Oct 31, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 31, 2024 | 9:00 AM
DCM DK Shivakumar flagging off KSRTC's new Airavat Club Class 2.0 service. (DKShivakumar/X)
The Karnataka government will rethink continuing the Shakti scheme as women are preferring to pay for rides on state-operated buses, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Wednesday, 30 October.
The Shakti scheme, providing free travel for women on non-luxury KSRTC buses, was one of the five guarantees the Congress had made ahead of the May 2023 Assembly polls.
The scheme, launched in Karnataka on 11 June 2023, was later replicated by the Congress government in Telangana.
Speaking to reporters after flagging off the KSRTC’s new Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses, he said, “Many women have been communicating to us through social media and emails that they would like to pay for their tickets. We will discuss this.”
“About 5-10 percent of women are saying that the conductors are not taking money for the tickets even when they volunteer to pay. I will soon hold a meeting with Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and discuss this matter,” Shivakumar, also the state Congress president, said.
He also spoke about how KSTRC had made a name for itself in the nation by receiving 112 national and international awards.
“This is a credit for the hard work of its employees. When KSRTC started, it had 120 buses. Today, it has 24,282 buses. After we came to power, we announced a plan to purchase 6,200 buses and have bought 3,400 buses till now. We have also initiated the recruitment of 9,000 drivers and conductors,” he said.
About 1,000 people have been given jobs on a compassionate basis, Shivakumar said, adding, “The families of employees who were killed in accidents have been paid ₹1 crore as compensation. We have the best system in the whole country.”
Mentioning that KSRTC is a not-for-profit firm meant to serve the people, the deputy chief minister said, “Private players have come forward to provide fuel to KSRTC at a cheaper than the market rate. We will discuss this with all stakeholders and proceed with this. Ramalinga Reddy is doing a great job in the Transport Department,” he lauded his Cabinet colleague.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
