Shakti Scheme’s free bus travel gift to women in Karnataka

For Chikamma, a 39-year-old domestic helper from a small village on the outskirts of Bengaluru, her daily commute by bus to Yelahanka was a significant expenditure. However, ever since the Karnataka state government introduced the Shakti scheme, she can save around ₹ 1,500 from her ₹20,000 monthly wages. 

Helping Women Through Free Commute 

The Shakti initiative grants free bus rides to women, thus reducing financial stress and increasing women’s participation in the labor force. After the introduction of this policy, Chikamma now has additional savings to take care of household essentials and emergencies. This state-wide policy has not only benefited Chikamma but has also eased the financial burden of her daughter’s commute to college. 

Karnataka is not the first state to offer such a program. In 2019, Delhi kicked off a similar initiative providing free pink paper tickets to women. Punjab and Tamil Nadu have also initiated comparable schemes. 

Improving Women’s Participation in the Workforce 

Experts indicate that these policies have opened new doors for women in India. The scheme confronts gendered assumptions about who controls money, and thus, who has access to labor outside the home. According to Satya Arikutharam, an independent mobility expert based in Bengaluru, the no-cost transportation option significantly motivates women to consider working, particularly if their previous commute was unreliable or unaffordable. 

India’s current female labor participation rate is one of the lowest in the world, with fewer than 25% of Indian women above 15 years of age being employed as of 2022. These alarming figures have been attributed to various reasons, including a lack of job opportunities, particularly in the agricultural sector. 

Benefits and Backlashes of Shakti Scheme

While such initiatives prove to be an investment in enhancing women’s mobility, thus allowing them to contribute to the economy, they have encountered backlash from various quarters. Transport providers such as private bus operators and auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers went on strike in Karnataka in July, stating that their earnings have been adversely affected by the Shakti scheme. The ruling party in the states without the policy deemed it a burden on public finances. 

However, the governments upholding the free transit schemes for women insist on its success. Encouraging data released by Karnataka’s transportation department shows women accounting for over half the bus riders since the Shakti scheme was rolled out. This growing demand has prompted the state government to request the addition of 5,600 more buses to its existing fleet. 

The Freedom to Explore and Experience the City 

The scheme is not confined to empowering women economically, but it also allows them the freedom to travel for leisure. Women are no longer financially dependent on others for their transportation needs, opening up the city for exploration beyond just work and education. 

For instance, Shweta, a university student commuting regularly from her home to her university in Noida, now also avails the free bus facilities to visit Delhi landmarks such as the Red Fort, the Qutub Minar, and the Sarojini flea market. 

“We don’t have to depend on anyone now”, she said. “I’ve seen the entirety of Delhi using the bus.” 

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