Free Travel For Women Scheme In Karnataka Crosses 100 Crore Travellers
Benguluru: Since, its launch on June 11 this year, ‘Shakti’ scheme launched by the State Government to allow free travel for women/girls in State owned ordinary buses across Karnataka has crossed 100 crore travelers till November 23, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru City on Friday.
‘Shakti’ scheme is one of the 5-assurances the Congress party made to the voters of Karnataka before coming to power. Along with free travel for women, the State Government has also rolled out ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme to directly transfer Rs 2,000 a month to a female head of a family.
At a function to confer gold medals for safe drivers, Siddaramaiah said his government after coming to power in six months in Karnataka has achieved that none of the State Governments in the country could achieve it and stated that “Records are there for the reckoning and results are evident.”
Despite the State Government achieving the feat, Siddaramaiah said the opposition party-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) indulge in levelling criticism against the State Government out of “jealous” and stated he would not give much attention to the criticism of the opposition parties.
Regarding the cash benefit scheme for women, the Chief Minister about 1.17 crore women have registered for the “Gruha Lakshmi '' scheme and the cash benefit scheme covers all women without any discrimination of caste and communal lines.
The State Government also launched free power supply upto 200 units a month for eligible domestic consumers which benefitted crores of families across the State and “Anna Bhagya” scheme, rice has been distributed to BPL/ Antyodaya card holders, he said and asked the BJP “Why should BJP be jealous if people save money?”
The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the money given to the people returns back to the State Government and then again it reaches the people. By this way, Gross Domestic Product and economic activities would increase.”
Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy was present.