The first electoral guarantee of the Congress has been implemented in Karnataka. Women can travel free in government buses. This scheme has come into force within the limits of the state from one o’clock this afternoon for the native women of the state.
New Delhi: After the implementation of the ‘Shakti’ scheme, which is included in the five guarantees of the ruling Congress in Karnataka, women can now travel free of cost in government buses from Sunday. Officials said that this free travel facility will benefit more than 41.8 lakh women every day and the government exchequer will have a burden of Rs 4,051.56 crore annually. This scheme, for the native women of the state, has come into force today (11/06/2023, Sunday) from one o’clock in the afternoon within the limits of the state.
CM Siddaramaiah gave a gift to the women of Karnataka
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched this scheme from the steps of Vidhan Soudha here, which will benefit women and girl students. The State Legislature and the Secretariat are jointly called the Legislature. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy were present at the event, where the logo of the Shakti scheme was unveiled and Shakti smart cards were symbolically issued to five women.
Women can apply for Shakti Smartcard by registering on the government portal ‘Seva Sindhu’ to take advantage of this scheme. As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, the ministers in charge of the district will start this scheme in their respective districts. The state government has said that this scheme will reduce the cost of travel fare for poor and lower middle class working women and they can use this savings for household expenses.
Opposition targeted for condemning the government
Siddaramaiah said, ‘We implemented the Shakti scheme today.’ He hit out at the opposition for criticizing his government over the implementation of the five ‘guarantees’ and accused it of creating ‘confusion’ among the people.
Congress’s other four election guarantees include free electricity up to 200 units to all households (Grihajyoti), Rs 2,000 per month assistance to the female head of each household (Grihalakshmi), 10 kg food for each member of a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family free rice (Anna Bhagya), and Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders (Yuvanidhi). The Chief Minister also made it clear that if a woman passenger has to go outside Karnataka by a government bus, she will not be charged any fare, but this facility will be available only up to 20 kilometers in border states.
