On June 2, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of Karnataka launched the Shakti plan, under which women will be able to travel for free throughout the state, with the exception of AC and luxury buses. The program, which will be introduced on June 11, has gotten strong reviews from residents of the state, particularly women. Transport officials have now made it clear that 50% of the seats on buses would be set aside for men because men will be purchasing tickets to ride state buses.
Women in Karnataka will be able to travel for free thanks to the efforts of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC), and North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWSRTC).
According to The Hindu, the Karnataka government will need to spend 14,220 crores each year to implement the Shakti scheme. The four RTCs will also need to hire 13,793 more employees and induct 4,028 new buses.
According to The New Indian Express, stickers would demarcate the seats for men and women, and women may sit in any seat; however, if men boarded, they would have to give up their seats for women.
According to Vinay K Sreenivasa, a member of Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV), "We have been fighting for free fares for women, students, the transgender community, and older residents for the past two years.
The government's choice to offer free transport to women, including transgender people and students, is a positive step. Since they are no longer restricted by the cost of mobility, they will also have more options when it comes to accessing education and employment. This program will assist households from marginalized communities to save more, allowing them to spend the savings on urgent necessities like food and education, as shown by the Tamil Nadu Planning Board study.
According to transportation experts, a 10% increase in daily ridership is anticipated. In Karnataka, the Shakti scheme has been put into place to give women social and economic empowerment.
