The free of cost travel scheme for women in Delhi public buses began on Tuesday with the government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying it will ensure their safety and increase their role in the national capital’s economy.
Women will be given pink tickets in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses to avail the free-ride scheme, which started on Bhai Dhooj.
The Delhi government will reimburse transporters based on the number of pink tickets issued. On Monday night, the government issued a notification implementing the free-ride scheme from Tuesday.
The facility will also be available in Noida-NCR, airport and other special services operated by the DTC and cluster scheme operators.
Hours after the launch of the scheme, Kejriwal said it might be extended to senior citizens. This scheme will help in women empowerment by bridging the gender gap that exists in society, the Chief Minister said on his mobile application ‘AK App’.
”Now, girls and women who had to drop out of schools and colleges because of high transportation cost don’t need to sacrifice their education. They can now take buses to good schools and colleges which are away from their homes. Similarly, women whose offices are far need not worry about transportation cost,” Kejriwal said.
”Bus rides for senior citizens and students might be made free too in the coming days”, Kejriwal said on the app, which was launched by him ahead of the Assembly polls.
”Every step cannot be completed at once. We will definitely do it. Let us start with women and see the results, and based on the result we will definitely deliberate on making these rides free for senior citizens and students too in the future,” he said.
On deployment of marshals on buses, he said they will now be deployed in all the public buses to ensure safety and protection of women. ”I warn all goons harassing women in buses that if you try to harass women there are marshals to take care of you,” Kejriwal said.
Asserting his government’s commitment to boost women security in Delhi, he said the number of marshals on buses in the national capital will be increased by nearly 10,000 on the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj.
India will grow only when the women of the country grow. Giving free rides to women in buses can prove to be a very big step towards women empowerment, the Chief Minister said.
During his Independence Day speech, Kejriwal had said free-ride for women in both DTC and cluster buses will start from October 29, which is ”Bhai Dooj”.
The Delhi cabinet had on 29 August given in-principle approval to the scheme of providing free bus rides to women, but put a rider on female employees of the city government that they have to give up their transport allowance to avail the facility. This is no doubt a welcome move in empowering women and this could be followed by other States.