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On June 11, the newly-elected Congress authorities in Karnataka launched the primary amongst 5 ballot ensures — Shakti scheme. In this scheme, women can travel for free in non-premium providers of State-run buses throughout Karnataka.
The primary goal of this scheme is claimed to be to extend the work participation price of women, and to advertise public transportation in Karnataka.
What was the genesis of Shakti scheme?
The Congress introduced the Shakti scheme in its manifesto for the Assembly elections in Karnataka, as a part of 5 ensures. The Shakti scheme, and the opposite ensures, are believed to have helped the Congress win a cushty majority in the elections, and kind the federal government in Karnataka.
At the first assembly of the Cabinet of the newly-formed authorities in Karnataka on May 20, a call was taken to implement the 5 ensures promised to voters in the ballot manifesto of the Congress celebration.
In the next cupboard assembly on June 2, the cupboard determined to implement all 5 ensures throughout this monetary 12 months, beginning with the Shakti scheme on June 11.
Watch | What is Karnataka’s new ‘Shakti’ scheme?
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah mentioned the scheme would profit 50% of the inhabitants. “The Shakti scheme has brought relief to women of the State who are in distress due to price hike and inflation,” he had mentioned. While launching the scheme, Mr Siddaramaiah had mentioned that in India, women’s participation in the workforce is shrinking, and selling free bus travel scheme would empower extra women to affix the workforce.
What are the contours of Shakti scheme?
Under this scheme, women and transgenders can travel free in non-premium providers of State-run bus providers throughout Karnataka.
The free travel scheme is restricted throughout the State to women who’re domicile of Karnataka. They will be capable to travel in basic and categorical bus providers operated by State-run Road Transport Corporations.
The State Government will problem the ‘Shakti Smart Card’ after receiving purposes from women, together with college students, by means of the Seva Sindhu portal. Until then, it has requested RTCs to just accept any id card issued by the Central or State authorities that carries the {photograph} and deal with of the beneficiary, to problem a ‘zero ticket’ (free ticket).
The authorities has directed completion of issuance of sensible playing cards inside three months.
The bus providers that won’t be lined by the Shakti scheme are Rajahamsa, non-AC sleeper, Vajra, Vayu Vajra, Airavatha, Airavatha Club Class, Airavatha Gold Class, Ambaari, Ambaari Dream Class, Ambaari Utsav, Fly Bus, EV Power Class.
The authorities has reserved 50% of the seats for males in the providers in which women are eligible to avail free travel, besides Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) providers.
How many individuals will profit from Shakti scheme?
The scheme is anticipated to learn 41.81 lakh women (together with 11.58 lakh passholders), based on an announcement by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).
The RTCs met the estimated goal of beneficiaries on June 12, the primary weekday the scheme was operational. A complete of 41.34 lakh women travelled free in RTC buses on June 12. The value to the State exchequer was ₹8.84 crore.
On June 13, the Transport Department’s most estimate of free ridership for a day underneath the Shakti scheme was breached, with over 51.52 lakh women boarding State-run street transport company (RTC) buses, which was the third day of implementation of this welfare programme.
The complete worth of the free tickets on the third day was is ₹10.82 crore, and the cumulative value for three days was ₹21.05 crore. On all three days, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation recorded the very best women ridership.
How will RTCs meet Shakti scheme demand?
At current, the 4 RTCs function 23,989 buses throughout Karnataka with a median run of 65.02 lakh kilometres per day.
Following public demand to obtain extra buses to efficiently implement the scheme, which can make extra individuals use buses, State-run street transport companies that function the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, the BMTC, the NWKRTC, and the KKRTC plan to obtain 1,894 new buses this 12 months.
How is the price of free travel reimbursed to RTCs?
The authorities has determined to reimburse the price of free travel to the companies primarily based on the zero ticket, or knowledge from Shakti sensible playing cards. The authorities routinely reimburses the subsidy offered for bus passes, other than particular grants and monetary help. The authorities has reimbursed ₹3,606.52 crore to the 4 companies from April 2022 to March 2023.
How have personal bus operators reacted to the Shakti scheme?
Private bus operators have been affected by the Shakti scheme, particularly in Malnad, coastal and previous Mysuru area districts the place personal buses have been dominating the general public transport sector in rural areas.
Private buses function on a number of busy routes, together with Shivamogga-Chitradurga, Shivamogga-Davangere, Shivamogga-Sagar, and Shivamogga-Chikkamagaluru, the place they compete with providers of the KSRTC.
Rangappa R., president of Private Bus Owners’ Association in Shivamogga, mentioned, “We will suffer huge losses on these routes once the free bus facility comes into effect. Why will women passengers travel in our buses when travelling by KSRTC is free of charge?”
In Dakshina Kannada district, greater than 400 buses are run by personal operators, and 68 buses are operated in rural areas on contract carriage foundation. Dakshina Kannada District City Bus Owners’ Association is planning to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting aid in the type of diesel subsidy.
What do transport activists say concerning the Shakti scheme?
Activists argue that the rule to get a wise card to avail the free bus scheme is a large entry barrier for women.
Vinay Ok. Sreenivasa, member of Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV), mentioned, “The scheme is radical, and has transformatory potential. But, guidelines say all women bus users will need to apply on Seva Sindhu portal for a smart card. This is a huge entry barrier for women. It’s not needed and is unacceptable. This scheme is supposed to be especially for those who cannot afford to travel by bus, and those who face restrictions at home. It’s not easy for a single woman, from a BPL household, in a village, to apply on Seva Sindhu portal. Also, can the government issue up to 3 crore cards in three months?”
Citing an analogous scheme in Delhi, Mr Sreenivasa mentioned, “In Delhi, they track numbers by issuing a ticket of a different colour. Why can’t we do that? Why demand ID proof or smart card, and why impose restrictions of domicile?”.
What is fare-free public transport idea?
The Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) has been adopted in many nations and by numerous States in India. Australia and sure pockets of the U.S., amongst others, experimented with the idea for a few years.
In India, many States have rolled out the measure partially to sure sections of the inhabitants, equivalent to senior residents, disabled individuals, women, transgenders, minors, individuals working in public service sectors, and for journalists.
In 2021, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin introduced free travel for women on basic-fare authorities buses.
In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal carried out free bus providers for women in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses.
In Punjab, girl can travel free-of-cost in all government-owned buses, together with Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC), Punjab Roadways Buses (PUNBUS), and metropolis bus providers operated by native our bodies.
