"Empowering Women on Wheels: The Impact of Karnataka's Shakti Yojana"

 What is this, Shakti Yojana?

Karnataka's Congress government introduced the Shakti Yojana, a flagship scheme aimed at promoting women's empowerment by allowing them to travel free on non-luxury public transport buses. While this initiative has been lauded for its positive impact on women's mobility, it has also raised important questions about its consequences for various segments of society.

Benefits of the Shakti Scheme

The Shakti Scheme has ushered in a range of benefits:

Greater Freedom of Movement: By removing the cost barrier associated with travel, the scheme empowers women and transgenders to move freely, facilitating better access to education, employment opportunities, healthcare, and leisure.

Increased Ridership: The scheme's popularity is evident in the significant rise in daily ridership. Women are traveling more frequently and saving travel costs that can be allocated to other essential needs. In the initial days more commute was to the temple- Temple run!

Reduced Commute Distance: Women who previously walked long distances daily are now able to use public buses, making their daily commutes more convenient.

Impact on Different Areas

Though the scheme had good aim and purpose but it also adversely affecting the

The impact of the Shakti Scheme varies across different areas.

Challenges for Students and working women:

While the scheme benefits many, it has created some challenges, particularly for students:

Overcrowding: Due to the surge in passengers availing free travel, buses have become increasingly crowded, making it difficult for students to find adequate space during their daily commute to schools and colleges and for the working women.

Safety Concerns

The increased ridership of women using public transportation has led to a need for stricter security measures. In overcrowded buses, women may be vulnerable to harassment and may feel uncomfortable traveling, especially during peak hours.

Few women members are feeling humiliated by as they travel free. Swati, one of my colleagues said, “I couldn’t tolerate the gaze of Conductor, so I paid for the ticket.”

Chaitra, another colleague posted “Even though I paid for ticket I didn’t get seat :(

Economic Implications

No proper utilization of the scheme:

Women members are not utilising the service in a better way. For ex: They take ticket from Mysore to Bangalore, but they get down in Maddur to have coffee, later again they take another bus from Maddur. So, it’s a burden for Government in terms of economic.

The Shakti Scheme's impact on Karnataka's transport bodies has economic consequences:

Financial Loss: A CAG audit report highlighted that the government's failure to reimburse the Road Transport Corporation for the concessions offered resulted in an accumulated loss amounting to Rs 4,689.09 crore as of March 31, 2021.

Loss for RTCs: The estimated loss for various Road Transport Corporations includes Rs 1,563 crore for KSRTC, Rs 770 crore for BMTC, Rs 906 crore for NWKRTC, and Rs 810 crore for KKRTC.

No policies would be good or bad! But we being a responsible citizen should utilize it in a better way.

My thoughts: It is good to provide free transport for women. It would be good if the government has considered few more things such as: separate free bus for Women members as provided in Tamil Nadu, Timing would have been provided. It would have reduced overcrowding in normal KSRTC bus and also would have reduced the burden of bus drivers and conductors.

Working women and college students are facing difficulty to commute on time.

Conclusion

The Shakti Yojana in Karnataka has undoubtedly improved accessibility to public transport for women and transgenders. However, it has also inadvertently affected BMTC employees, auto drivers, and private bus operators. Balancing these considerations is crucial for the scheme's sustainable and successful implementation. The initiative reflects a broader societal challenge: the need to balance accessibility and affordability with economic sustainability and the well-being of various stakeholders.

References:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/free-ride-free-spirit-what-shakti-scheme-means-to-women-in-karnataka/article67432015.ece

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2023/jul/03/the-power-of-shaktihow-it-benefits-women-of-karnataka-what-it-costs-the-state-government-2590822.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBy%20removing%20the%20cost%20of,%2C%20livelihood%2C%20healthcare%20and%20leisure.

https://www.outlookindia.com/national/karnataka-govt-s-shakti-scheme-stings-auto-drivers-bus-operators-women-fear-safety-news-310444

https://www.google.com/search?q=shakti+yojana+crowd+-+images&tbm

From Screen to the Page- Thought provoking Drives towards the humanity

 

While discussing the current situation in the country with one of my friends, we both thought the lack of good movies that effectively connect with our current lives and address social issues. "Maaveeran" is a notable exception in my opinion. It beautifully unveils a story that underscores the power of inner voices, emphasizing the importance of humanity.

It's been quite some time since the release of the movie "Maaveeran" on Amazon Prime. I watched it recently, and it reminded me of the Tamil novel "Kaadhugal" (THE EARS) by S V Venkatram, which was suggested by our agent Vikram, also known as Kamal Haasan, in a private TV show. In a nutshell, this novel features a protagonist, much like our Sathya in "Maaveeran," who not only hears his inner voice but also voices from the outside world. It explores how he attempts to overcome these voices.

The sun was at its peak, and I found myself stuck in traffic. After enduring the scorching sun for some time, a reflexive action took over, and I began to press my bike horn. My inner voice started to erupt, and I began to lament the irresponsibility of the driver who had caused this situation. My inner voice began to deviate from reason, and I shouted within myself, "Why aren't you people moving?" The air-conditioned car in front of me and the surrounding vehicles were emitting heavy carbon dioxide, and my inner voice remarked, "All of this contributes to the greenhouse effect, causing a sudden increase in Earth's temperature, and I might die of heat right here." On the more constructive side, I realized that my time was evaporating like a non-renewable resource, and I couldn't replace it.

My focus shifted to the first vehicle leading this traffic jam, wondering what the problem was and when it would be resolved. Was there an ambulance stuck in the queue? In this short time, I oscillated between moments of egoism and humanism. My inner self continued to pose several questions and answer them, almost like a podcast that I could only listen to. My brain seemed to descend from my head as it engaged in a conversation with my inner voice, asking, "What if everyone's inner voice could be heard by the person they were thinking about?" If someone were thinking about me in their inner voice, I could hear their thoughts.

Now, in this frustrating situation with voices echoing all around, everyone would be thinking about the same truck and its driver obstructing the entire passage. All their inner voices would be broadcasted to the driver in our fictional scenario at lightning speed. To quote Buddha, "everyone's life is a suffering in some way."

Twenty vehicles behind, people would be talking about how all other drivers were habitual offenders, causing their suffering. Ten vehicles behind, people's inner voices would be complaining about the truck driver's lack of driving skills and irresponsibility. But the person right behind the truck would know the exact reason and feel pity, saying, "Oh, he got stuck," rather than accusing him of obstructing the passage. From the moment he got stuck, he would work to resolve the situation because he was the one directly affected.

However, as he tried to resolve the issue, he would have to endure the incessant honking from behind. He couldn't close his ears, and he had to manage his emotions, knowing that others were judging him. He wanted to attend to his own affairs, but with others observing him, he had to navigate the situation carefully. In this situation, the driver wished for someone to clear the way for him to move forward, even if it was just a push from behind or a helping hand from the front. Spectating and reviewing while others were stuck was not the essence of humanity. Helping someone who was stuck benefited not only him but also everyone dependent on him.

I heard the inner voice of the driver, "Someone out there, please help me; I'm stuck." So, I parked my bike to the side and went to assist him in clearing the obstruction. My help to him became a help to all of us. I stood by the side, and the procession began to move. Gradually, the inner voices faded, and happy faces replaced them. I received an inner voice message from the RBI Governor, thanking me for helping him in maintaining inflation. I looked at the truck, and it was carrying an essential commodity – humanity.