Shakti scheme is fostering stronger family connections

It is helping women visit home villages, go on pilgrimage, leisure trips

Study conducted by JustJobs Network and Fiscal Policy Institute reveals

Karnataka’s Shakti scheme, offering free bus rides for women, is fostering stronger family connections, enabling frequent visits to home villages, and facilitating pilgrimages and leisure trips. These activities, previously considered luxuries, have now become more accessible. These insights are from a preliminary study examining the social and economic impacts of the Congress government’s five guarantees since assuming office in mid-2023.

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Conducted by the JustJobs Network and the Fiscal Policy Institute, the study surveyed 786 women across Bengaluru Urban, Yadgir, Haveri, Udupi, and Chamarajanagar districts. The findings reveal that women are now making regular trips for household chores and errands, and accessing superior medical care in nearby towns and cities at affordable rates.

The scheme has led to a 7% increase in traffic for government buses, resulting in an average monthly savings of Rs 1,326 per family in Bengaluru. However, it has also sparked complaints from male passengers about increased wait times, crowding, and perceived unfairness, with reports of rude behavior towards female passengers.

The study also noted a rise in the use of other public transport modes post-Shakti, with train and Metro ridership increasing by 3.18% and 1.28%, respectively. The scheme has particularly benefited the OBC population, followed by the SC community. Despite the benefits, private buses remain popular in Udupi and Chamarajanagar due to their better connectivity, even though they are not free.