Punjab CM Amarinder Singh rolls out free bus travel for women ahead of polls

Ahead of assembly elections next year, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has picked up a leaf from arch-rival Arvind Kejriwal and announced free travel for women on state transport buses.

Singh made this announcement after a meeting of the cabinet ministers of the Punjab government and, like Kejriwal, claimed that the move would help reduce the female drop-out rate from schools and educational institutes.

Singh said the scheme is expected to benefit over 1.31 crore women/girls across the state.

Under the scheme, women residents of Punjab can avail free bus travel in Government-owned buses after furnishing documents like Aadhaar card, voter identification card or any other proof of residence in Punjab.

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However, the scheme will not be applicable to Government-owned AC Buses, Volvo Buses and HVAC Buses.

The move is seen as an attempt by Singh to reach out to women voters who form nearly 50% of the 2.77 crore population of the state.

Singh’s arch-rival and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had launched a similar scheme in the national capital in 2019, months before the assembly elections in February 2020.

Kejriwal’s AAP is making inroads in the state and trying to emerge as the key opposition party in the state after the disastrous performance of the Akali Dal in the 2017 Assembly elections in the state. BJP is a fringe player in Punjab.

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While announcing the scheme, Singh said it was expected to reduce female drop-out in schools because of the high cost of daily transport. The initiative would also help working women, who have to travel considerable distances to their workplace.

“The facility will thus ensure access to safe, cheap and reliable travel for women to engage in any economic activity,” a Punjab government statement said.

Interestingly, political strategist Prashant Kishor, who worked with AAP for the Delhi assembly elections, has recently joined as an advisor to Punjab Chief Minister in the rank of a cabinet minister.

Elections are scheduled in Punjab in February-March next year.