Has Karnataka’s Shakti Scheme Empowered Women or Drained the State? New Study Reveals Both Sides

When Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the Shakti Scheme in June 2023, offering free bus rides for women and transgender persons across Karnataka, it was hailed as a bold social reform. The goal was simple — to make public transport accessible and break the mobility barriers that restrict women’s access to jobs, education, and public spaces.

A year later, a detailed study by King’s College London’s Dickson Poon School of Law, titled “Routes to Recognition: The Impact of Karnataka’s Shakti Scheme on Women’s Paid Work,” provides a comprehensive look at how the initiative has transformed lives — and at what cost.

Women’s Mobility and Employment Boom

The study, led by Professor Prabha Kotiswaran under the Laws of Social Reproduction Project, surveyed 239 women across four districts — Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, and Kalaburagi.
Its findings suggest that the scheme has significantly expanded women’s access to work beyond their local panchayats and taluks.

Nearly 50% of respondents said they now travel farther for employment opportunities. The female labour force participation rate in Karnataka jumped from 25.1% to 30.2% within a year. Many women also reported greater job diversity — from factory and garment work to retail and office roles — largely due to savings from bus fares.

Financial Relief and Household Impact

For many women, the financial benefit has been immediate.
Beneficiaries reported monthly savings between ₹1,000 and ₹2,000, funds now redirected toward children’s education, health care, or small household investments.

The report highlights stories such as Rani H.K., a garment worker who now invests her transport savings in her son’s education, and Nirmalashri, a domestic worker who no longer spends a quarter of her wages commuting.

These seemingly small savings have strengthened women’s control over household finances, enhancing both their confidence and decision-making power.

Beyond Money: A Boost in Dignity and Autonomy

Over 80% of surveyed women said they feel “more independent” since using Shakti buses. Three out of four respondents reported feeling motivated to seek paid work.

For many, the simple act of boarding a bus without financial hesitation has become a symbol of freedom. Women previously dependent on husbands or employers now travel alone — even visiting temples, relatives, or tourist destinations — reclaiming public spaces once out of reach.

Challenges: Unequal Gains and Infrastructure Strain

However, the report cautions that the benefits are not evenly distributed.
Persistent barriers — including caste hierarchies, gender norms, lack of family support, and poor last-mile connectivity — continue to limit the full potential of the scheme.

Overcrowded buses, irregular services, and long walks to bus stops remain major issues in rural areas. Mothers travelling with children or those in remote hamlets face particular hardship.

Fiscal Burden and Operational Pressure

While the Shakti Scheme has increased ridership and boosted indirect tax revenues (via GST), it has also strained Karnataka’s transport corporations.
As of now, the government reportedly owes around ₹1,800 crore in pending reimbursements to state transport undertakings.

Overworked staff, ageing buses, and overcrowding have added operational pressure. Critics argue that universal free access — benefiting even affluent women — may not be fiscally sustainable in the long run.

The Road Ahead: Redesigning Shakti for the Future

Despite challenges, the King’s College study underscores that Shakti has redefined women’s relationship with public mobility. It recommends:

• Better route planning aligned with women’s work hours.
• Upgraded rural infrastructure and real-time route updates.
• Safe and well-lit bus stops with gender-sensitive grievance redressal.
• Inclusion of women in transport decision-making bodies.

The report also calls for legal backing to safeguard such welfare schemes from political discontinuity.

A Symbolic Revolution

Ultimately, the Shakti Scheme stands as more than a welfare initiative — it’s a social transformation tool.
It has not erased centuries of gender inequality, but it has given thousands of women mobility, visibility, and agency.

As the report eloquently puts it:

“When a woman boards a bus without paying a fare, she is not just saving money — she is reclaiming space, time, and dignity.”