After the Karnataka government issued a Government Order (GO) saying women will need to apply for a smart card on Seva Sindhu portal to avail the free bus pass scheme, activists say it is a huge entry barrier for women.
On Monday June 5, guidelines were issued by the government for the Shakti scheme, which will be the first of the five pre-poll guarantees given by the Congress to be implemented on June 11. The scheme will allow free travel for women in buses run by the State–run road transport corporations.
According to the GO, the government intends to issue ‘Shakti Smart Card’ after receiving applications from women, including students, through the Seva Sindhu portal. It has asked the RTCs to accept any identity card issued by the Central or State government that carries the photograph and address of the beneficiary, and till then issue ‘zero ticket’ (free ticket). The government has directed the issuance of smart cards to be completed within three months.
