Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan launched the Priyadarshini scheme to provide free travel on ordinary KSRTC buses for women and transgender persons [1, 2].
The initiative aims to empower marginalized genders and support economic growth by removing transportation costs, a move intended to fulfill a gender-friendly transport pledge made by the United Democratic Front (UDF) during elections [2, 4].
Chief Minister Satheesan inaugurated the program during a ceremony held on June 13, 2024, at a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) venue in Thiruvananthapuram [2, 4]. While the inauguration took place earlier that week, the free travel benefit officially began on June 15, 2024 [4].
To prepare for the rollout, the state introduced a gender-ticketing system on May 9, 2024 [5]. This system allows the KSRTC to track ridership and manage the logistics of the free fare program across its ordinary bus fleet.
The financial impact of the program is significant. The annual cost of the Priyadarshini scheme is estimated at Rs 800 crore [4].
Despite the launch, the initiative has faced political opposition. CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said the party would boycott the launch, alleging that the UDF had diluted its original poll promise [1, 3].
The scheme is designed to increase the mobility of women and transgender individuals, potentially increasing their participation in the workforce and education by reducing the daily cost of commuting via state-run transport [2, 4].
“Free travel on ordinary KSRTC buses for women and transgender persons.”
The Priyadarshini scheme represents a significant fiscal commitment by the Kerala government to social equity. By allocating Rs 800 crore annually, the state is testing the hypothesis that removing transport barriers directly correlates with increased economic autonomy for women and transgender citizens. The political friction from the CPI(M) suggests that while the policy is popular, the specific implementation and the fulfillment of campaign promises remain a point of contention in the state's competitive political landscape.
