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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka's free bus travel spurs 23% rise in women's employment in Bengaluru: Report
A new report has found that women's employment in Bengaluru rose by 23% after the implementation of Karnataka's Shakti Scheme, which provides free bus travel for women across the state. Newly launched Shakti scheme witnessed overwhelming response on day 1. (PTI) Hubballi-Dharwad too saw a 21% increase in women joining the workforce during the same period, pointing to a positive shift in mobility-linked economic participation. According to a report by The Hindu, the findings are part of a report titled 'Beyond Free Rides: A Multi-State Assessment of Women's Bus Fare Subsidy Schemes in Urban India', published by Nikore Associates and commissioned by the Sustainable Mobility Network. The study spanned 10 cities across five states, Karnataka, Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, and drew from over 2,500 surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Karnataka stood out among the states studied, demonstrating the strongest link between fare-free public transport and employment gains for women, the report added. In both Bengaluru and Hubballi-Dharwad, nearly 27% of surveyed women said they switched to buses due to the scheme. Many also reported travelling longer distances and more frequently for work, education, and essential errands, the report further added. (Also Read: Karnataka lowers SSLC pass marks to 33% starting academic year 2025-26) Challenges remain The study also identified several ongoing challenges. First- and last-mile connectivity remains a significant hurdle for many women, particularly in the outskirts of urban areas. Despite free bus rides, additional costs for autorickshaws or shared transport to reach bus stops reduce the scheme's financial benefit. Safety concerns were another major issue. Less than half of the women surveyed in Bengaluru and Hubballi-Dharwad said they felt safe while commuting. Reported concerns included harassment, poor lighting, overcrowded buses, and lack of staff at bus stops. To address these concerns and boost the scheme's overall impact, the report recommended several steps: expanding the bus fleet, hiring and training gender-sensitive staff, installing safety features like CCTV cameras and adequate lighting, and ensuring better integration with local transport options for first- and last-mile connectivity. Shakti Scheme data Since its launch on June 11, 2023, up to July 24, 2025, the Shakti Scheme has facilitated over 508 crore free trips for women across Karnataka. The total ticket value for these journeys amounts to ₹12,881 crore, covering services by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation. (Also Read: Chinnaswamy stadium deemed 'unsafe' for mass gatherings after Bengaluru stampede: Report)
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
23% rise in women's employment in Bengaluru after Shakti Scheme: Study
A 23% jump in women's employment in Bengaluru and a 21% increase in Hubballi-Dharwad have been recorded following the implementation of Karnataka's Shakti Scheme, which offers fare-free bus travel to women, according to a new study. The report highlights Karnataka as the best-performing State among five-studied States, in terms of linking free public transport to employment gains for women. The findings come from a new report titled 'Beyond Free Rides: A Multi-State Assessment of Women's Bus Fare Subsidy Schemes in Urban India', commissioned by the Sustainable Mobility Network and conducted by Nikore Associates. The report is based on over 2,500 surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews conducted across 10 cities in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, according to the study. In Karnataka, nearly 27% of women in both Bengaluru and Hubballi-Dharwad reported switching to buses because of the scheme, while many said they now travel more frequently and farther for work, education, and other essential needs, the study claims. Mitali Nikore, Founder and chief economist of Nikore Associates, said, 'The Shakti Scheme is enabling more frequent travel, longer trips, and better access to essential services, especially for women who were previously limited by cost. Karnataka's experience shows what's possible when intention meets inclusive access.' 'Met primary objective' Speaking about the findings, Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy said, 'The primary objective of the Shakti Scheme is to empower women, and the increase in women's employment highlighted in the study is an encouraging sign.' 'I have observed that since the scheme was introduced, a large number of women particularly from lower-middle and middle-income families have been using the free bus service to commute for work. Many have found jobs in sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, and domestic services, among others,' Mr. Reddy told The Hindu. Persistent challenges However, the report flags persistent challenges, particularly around first-and-last-mile connectivity. Many women living in peripheral urban areas continue to depend on autorickshaws or other paid options to reach bus stop, costs that eat into their savings and limit the impact of the fare-free scheme. Safety remains another key barrier. Despite rising bus usage, less than half of women in Bengaluru and Hubballi-Dharwad reported feeling safe while commuting. Issues cited include harassment, overcrowding, poor lighting, and lack of staffing at bus stops. To improve the effectiveness of the Shakti Scheme and others like it, the report recommends: fleet expansion to meet rising demand, gender-sensitive staffing and training of transport workers, installation of safety infrastructure like CCTV cameras, lighting, and responsive helplines, and better integration with first-mile and last-mile options. From June 11, 2023, to July 24, 2025, the Shakti Scheme enabled over 508 crore trips for women passengers to travel free of cost across the four State transport undertakings—Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation. The ticket value of women passengers travelled is ₹12,881 crore.
