Stree Shakti will foster women’s financial independence, says Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the free travel facility being provided to women in the State would foster their financial independence.

Speaking after launching ‘Stree Shakti’, the free bus travel scheme for women at the Vijayawada city bus depot on the premises of Pandit Nehru Bus Station, Mr. Naidu called the scheme “a brother’s gift to his sisters across the State on the Independence Day.” He said under this initiative, women would be allowed to travel free of cost in five categories of buses — Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express and Metro Express services. Out of the total 11,449 buses in the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) fleet, the free travel facility was being provided in 8,458 (74%) of the vehicles, he said.

Mr. Naidu informed that besides improving infrastructure and making elaborate arrangements, the officials, staff and workers of the APSRTC across 129 depots and 423 bus stations across four zones were well prepared to handle the rise in demand. Focus was shifted to cleanliness in bus stations.

He said the State would get 1,050 new electric buses which would augment the APSRTC fleet. Besides expanding the parcel services and door-delivery/pick-up services, GPS was installed in buses for real-time tracking.

The Chief Minister said it was decided to procure only electric buses for the State henceforth. He said in view of the possible impact of the free bus service for women on the livelihood of auto-rickshaw drivers, the State would extend them support to avoid livelihood loss.

Women’s welfare

He said the TDP, ever since its inception, had given top priority to women’s welfare. The party founder and the late Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao had granted women property rights, 9% reservation in local body elections and had established a women’s university in Tirupati. “Following in his footsteps, I offered 33% quota to women in politics, jobs and colleges, introduced DWCRA, appointed women conductors and soon there will be women drivers too,’‘ Mr. Naidu said.

He also listed out the welfare schemes being implemented by the coalition government in the State.

Safety

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan said more than helping girl students and women save a monthly sum of ₹1,500-2,000, the scheme is essentially about women safety and thus it was named ‘Stree Shakti’. He said CCTV cameras would be installed in the buses and women conductors would be equipped with pocket cameras. This is to instil confidence among girls and women commuters that they can travel safely anywhere across the State.

He said despite severe financial difficulties, the Chief Minister, with his foresight and experience, overcame the challenges and fulfilled this important promises, which formed part of the ‘Super Six’ programme of the coalition government in the State.

He said women travellers would be issued zero-fare tickets, providing them financial security and freedom of movement.

Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Real Time Governance and Human Resources Development N. Lokesh said through Stree Shakti, the government wanted to empower women for greater economic independence.

Referring to the YSR Congress Party chief’s criticism, Mr. Lokesh said people who don’t respect women in their own homes, had no right to criticise others. He said if given opportunities, women can create wonders. He cited his mother Bhuvaneswari’s example, who was successfully running a ₹5,000 crore company and leading the NTR Trust.

The Chief Minister, along with Mr. Pawan Kalyan, Mr. Lokesh and BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, arrived at the meeting venue in an RTC bus, from Undavalli and interacted with the women commuters on their travel needs.

Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), MLAs Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and Gadde Rammohan Rao, AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) Chairman Konakalla Narayana, Principal Secretary, Department of Transport and Roads and Buildings Kantilal Dande, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of APSRTC Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao and others were present.