Latest news with #ShaktiScheme
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- 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
25-07-2025
- 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.
Deccan Herald
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
ESMA will not stop indefinite strike of RTCs: Sharma
Stressing there is no question of withdrawing the strike, the Akhila Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Nowkarara Mahamandali has decided to go on indefinite strike from August 5 as the state government has not yet responded to their demands and also to their strike to reporters in Hubballi on Wednesday after a state-level meeting over the strike, Mahamandali president K S Sharma criticised the Siddaramaiah government for neglecting the employees of road transport corporations and said the state government invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) as a weapon to threaten the employees. But it is not possible to stop them from going on strike, he said. The employees have been demanding the clearance of 38-month salary arrears, the implementation of a new wage revision effective from January 1, 2024, and the withdrawal of legal cases filed against them. But there is no response from the government in fulfilling the demands. Therefore, the Joint Action Committee, backed by six other unions, has decided to go on strike from August 5, he added.'There is a limit for patience and no one waits for 38 months to get their salary arrears. Even after serving a strike notice, the government has not called a meeting. We all know that public transport is an essential service, but the government has been neglecting the employees of essential services,' Sharma, a known trade unionist, expressed his displeasure over the Congress are more than one lakh employees in the Road Transport Corporations (RTCs), and the Shakti Scheme has been running successfully due to dedication and hard work of employees. After implementation of the scheme, the number of passengers increased, and the employees are working under pressure. 'It is the government's responsibility to pay our dues, and the government should address other demands of the employees too,' he the ESMA invocation as an anti-labour policy, Sharma said when all associations jointly give a call for strike, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should take the employees into consideration and fulfill their demands. It is ironic that the CM has not called for a negotiation meeting. Is it the way of running a government?, Is it peoples' government or no?, he questioned. 'We are not slaves, we are employees and render our services to the government and public. Running a government through ESMA will not be possible,' he said.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
RTC workers announce indefinite strike from August 5 over pending demands
Employees of all four State Road Transport Corporations (RTCs) in Karnataka have announced that they will go on an indefinite strike from August 5, halting bus services across the State. The Joint Action Committee of Workers' Unions made the announcement, citing the government's continued neglect of their long-pending demands. In a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the unions criticised the government for ignoring transport workers' grievances, including the release of pending arrears, pay revision, and timely promotions. 'Despite repeated calls for strikes, the government only holds meetings and promises resolutions in a few days or months, but nothing changes,' said H. V. Ananth Subbarao, president of the KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation. Among their key demands, the unions have sought an increase in various staff allowances, improved medical facilities, and regularisation of drivers and technical staff currently hired on a contract basis. They have also urged that only permanent corporation drivers be deployed to operate electric buses, not contract staff. The union leaders argued that transport workers had played a vital role in implementing welfare schemes like the 'Shakti Scheme', which has generated goodwill and revenue for the government. 'Despite our contribution, the government has completely ignored us,' Mr. Subbarao said.
Deccan Herald
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Karnataka govt's Shakti scheme registers 500 cr free bus rides
'Sakthi' scheme, announced by the Congress government in Karnataka, providing free bus travel for women, crossed the 500 crore free rides mark on Monday, officials said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy D K Shivakumar, and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy celebrated the occasion by symbolically issuing the 500th crore free ticket to a woman passenger here. 'Shakti' scheme, which provides free bus travel for all women domiciled in the state, is among the five guarantee schemes implemented by the Congress government on coming to power. Launched on June 11, 2023, the scheme has so far cost the government Rs 12,669 crore, officials said. "As this is a special occasion I have symbolically issued the 500th crore free ticket to a woman passenger," Siddaramaiah later told reporters. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) said, by offering free bus travel to women, the scheme has significantly contributed to the economic, social, educational, professional and health empowerment of women across the state. Before the launch of the Shakti Scheme, around 85.84 lakh passengers were travelling by bus daily, now this number has risen to 1.17 crore passengers per day, highlighting the scheme's massive impact, it said in a release. Pointing at the operational expansion post-Shakti scheme roll out, it said the number of scheduled services increased from 21,164 (pre-Shakti) to 23,635 (post-Shakti), and the total number of buses increased from 23,948 to 26,130, including the replacement of 2,828 old vehicles. According to KSRTC, to mark the milestone, the CM, the Deputy CM and the transport minister presented and felicitated 30 women passengers, including students, senior citizens, and transgender individuals, with Ilkal sarees, sweets and roses. The woman who received the 500th crore Shakti ticket was honoured by the chief minister with a shawl, floral garland, and a memento. Members of Vijayapura's 'Odala Dhwani Stree Sangha' (women's group), empowered by the Shakti Scheme, started producing and selling organic rotis and holiges (sweet) in Bengaluru, generating lakhs in revenue. As a gesture of gratitude, they presented rotis to the CM, Deputy Chief Minister, and the transport minister, the release said.
