Punjab government offers free bus travel for women

April 2, 2021 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani No comments

Now women in Punjab can travel in government buses for free within the state. This facility is available in non-AC buses. Yesterday Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh launched the free bus travel facility virtually.

All girls and women can utilize the free travel scheme irrespective of their financial status. Hence it will benefit around 1.31 crore women and girls in the state. To use this facility, they have to show their valid identity proof like Aadhaar card, voter card or any other valid ID proof.

During the launch, the programme is connected live to 30,000 women in 1,036 locations across the state. Their feedback was also taken.

One woman said that she was happy about using the facility after the launch and certainly this scheme would benefit women from poor backgrounds.

Another woman said that it was a great move and she can travel hassle-free and meet her friends. And some others said that it was a great decision to empower women.

In this context, the CM said that this free travel scheme clearly shows his government’s vision for the comprehensive growth of women and girls. He added it was launched to empower women.

In this regards, Singh said that his government provided 33 per cent reservations to women in government jobs. Besides, women had been provided 50 per cent reservation in Panchayati Raj and Local Bodies institutions.

Many women are going to get government jobs due to reservations. In addition to that, the government gave several girl students smartphones for their online education.

Singh also added that his government fulfilled 85 per cent poll manifesto promises. Though his government promised to reduce the bus ticket price for women by 50 per cent during the elections, it had decided to provide them completely free travel.

While many political parties were promising free travel for women in some states going to polls, his government already provided free travel facility to women. The assembly elections in Punjab will take place in the next year.

Image Credit: Biswarup Ganguly / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons