Shakti Smart Card Registration process begins in Karnataka, smartcard holder women would be allowed free travel in public transport buses. A new initiative namely “Shakthi Scheme” has been launched by Karnataka government. In this scheme, govt. provides facility of free travel for women in state-run transport buses. Shakti smart cards are being issued which will serve as free bus pass for all women. The shakti yojana would ensure women empowerment and would mainly benefit working women and school girls.
About Karnataka Shakti Scheme 2024
Newly elected CM of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, said “our government will provide shakti smart cards to around 42 lakh women including 30 lakh women working in organised / unorganised sector & 8 lakh girl students”.
| Name of Scheme | Shakti Scheme |
| in Kannada | ಶಕ್ತಿ ಯೋಜನೆ |
| State | Karnataka |
| Objective | Free travel facility for all women in state-government-run public transport buses |
| Eligible beneficiaries | Girl students, working women (either organised or unorganised sector) & all other women residing in Karnataka |
| Number of Beneficiaries | Around 42 lakh women including 30 lakh working women, 8 lakh girl students |
| Who announced it | Smt. Priyanka Gandhi (before Karnataka state assembly elections) |
| Start Date | 11 June 2023 |
Launch of Shakti Yojana in Karnataka
The newly elected Congress government in Karnataka launched the first among five poll guarantees, “Shakti”: a scheme which offers women free travel in non-premium services offered by State–run Road Transport Corporations (RTCs) on 11th June 2023 (Sunday). Around 42 lakh women can now travel free in govt. buses. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy launched the scheme and also issued smart cards to five beneficiaries at the event held on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
Zero Tickets (Free Tickets) to Women Passengers in Karnataka
Mr. Siddaramaiah took on the role of a bus conductor, issuing free tickets to women passengers in Majestic bus station. He issued the zero tickets to women passengers who were travelling from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the district in-charge ministers and legislators simultaneously launched the scheme, by travelling in buses and issuing tickets, in their respective districts and constituencies. KGF MLA Roopkala Shashidhar, a woman herself, also drove a KSRTC bus for some distance to launch the scheme.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that in India, women’s participation in the workforce was shrinking and billed the free bus travel scheme as empowering women to join the workforce more. “Women represented only 24% of India’s formal and informal workforce and since 2014, their participation has been shrinking – come down from 30% to 24%. The Shakti scheme will help women to be part of the workforce and will contribute to the development of the State and the country,” the chief minister said. “Countries which have more women participation will develop. Economic and social inequalities in the society can be gradually erased when women are empowered,” he opined.
Karnataka Shakti Smart Card Apply Online
STEP 1: To apply for Shakti Smart Card, first go to the Seva Sindhu portal – https://sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in/Sevasindhu/English
STEP 2: If you are a new user, click “New User Register Here” link to make registration at sevasindhu portal first.
STEP 3: Here you can enter aadhaar number, captcha and click “Next” button. Then you will have to enter OTP received on your aadhar linked mobile number.
STEP 4: After validation, you can proceed to apply online for shakti smart cards by entering email ID, mobile number, password, captcha and clicking “Submit” button in the opened registration form.
STEP 5: Next you can make login using mobile number, OTP/password.
STEP 6: Next seva sindhu dashboard will open. Click at “Apply for Services” link or “View all available services” link.
STEP 7: Then find Shakthi Yojana service by entering “Shakti” in search box. Then fill shakti smart card Karnataka application form and submit it.
Issuance of Shakti Smart Cards in Karnataka
The State government will issue the ‘Shakti Smart Card’ after receiving applications from women, including students, through the Seva Sindhu portal. Until then, it has asked RTCs to accept any identity card issued by Central or State government that carries the photograph and address of the beneficiary to issue ‘zero ticket’ (free ticket). The government has directed the issuance of smart cards to be completed within three months.
Eligibility Criteria for Free Travel Scheme
The free travel scheme is restricted within the State for women who are domicile of Karnataka. They will be able to travel in general and express services operated by the RTCs.
Exclusions
The government has identified Rajahamsa, non-AC sleeper, Vajra, Vayu Vajra, Airavatha, Airavatha Club Class, Airavatha Gold Class, Ambari, Ambari Dream Class, Ambari Utsav, Fly Bus, EV Power Class as those services that will not come under the free travel scheme. The government has also reserved 50% of the seats for men in the services which women are eligible to avail in all RTCs including Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation. The reservation is not applicable to Bengaluru Metropolitan Road Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses.
CM Attacks BJP
CM attacked BJP by saying “The BJP, which only cares for the rich, cannot stand our concern for the poor. Our aim is to alleviate the suffering of people. In just 20 days after taking office, the first guarantee was implemented and all the women of the state have started availing the benefits. In these 20 days, the BJP has only been spreading lies. We were not deterred. Our goal was to keep our promise and we did it. The scheme is named Shakti with the objective of empowering women”.
The chief minister also stated that to empower women, another scheme namely Gruha Lakshmi scheme would be implemented in Karnataka in which Rs. 2,000 would be given to female heads of every household in Karnataka.