Shakti scheme smart cards still not issued
More than two years after the launch of Karnataka’s flagship Shakti Scheme, which offers free bus travel to women across the state, the smart cards promised to beneficiaries are yet to be distributed. The delay has sparked criticism from commuters and opposition leaders, who argue that the lack of cards has caused confusion and operational challenges in the scheme’s implementation.
The Shakti Scheme, launched In June 2023, was hailed as a landmark step in empowering women by providing free bus services in state-run transport corporations, excluding luxury and interstate services. To avail the benefit, women currently rely on Aadhaar-based identity verification and a physical ticketing system issued by conductors. However, the government had originally announced that personalised smart cards would be rolled out within months to streamline the process and prevent misuse.
Officials from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) cite logistical hurdles, delays in tendering, and technical integration issues as reasons behind the pending distribution of cards. They maintain that the scheme continues to operate smoothly, with more than 25 lakh women reportedly benefiting from it every day.
Despite this, activists and passenger associations argue that the absence of smart cards has made data collection, monitoring, and long-term planning difficult. They fear that leakages and discrepancies could undermine the scheme’s intended impact. Government sources have indicated that the process of finalising vendors is in the last stage and that card distribution could begin later this year. Until then, beneficiaries will have to continue relying on the existing manual system.