After implementing free ride scheme on Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the scheme may also be extended to the senior citizens and students studying in Delhi schools and colleges. Around 13,000 marshals were also deployed in all Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses for the safety and security of passengers traveling in public transports.
The free ride scheme was also announced for Delhi Metro trains by the Chief Minister in June but the initiative could not be operationalised as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has sought time to work out plans for its implementation.
The free ride scheme was flagged off on Tuesday by the Chief Minister on the festival of 'Bhai Dooj' as a gift to the sisters from their brother.
"This scheme will help in women empowerment by bridging the gender gap that exists in society, Kejriwal said on his mobile application 'AK App' and added that this was a gift from their brother on 'Bhai Dooj'."
"Now, girls and women who had to drop out of schools and colleges because of high transportation cost don’t need to sacrifice their education. They can now take buses to good schools and colleges which are away from their homes. Similarly, women whose offices are far need not worry about transportation cost," Kejriwal said.
Women taking Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses were on Tuesday issued pink tickets of face value of Rs 10 by conductors under the scheme. The Government will reimburse transporters based on the number of such tickets issued.
During Kejriwal's speech, many women passengers and other elderly persons said that the scheme is a real gift for the women and will end the gender gap. At the same time, they also suggested to extend the scheme to senior citizens and students of all category.
"Every step cannot be completed at once. We will definitely do it. Let us start with women and see the results, and based on the result we will definitely deliberate on making these rides free for senior citizens and students too in the future," he said through the AK app which has been launched by AAP ahead the Assembly elections in Delhi.
The AAP national convenor slammed his rivals for questioning his plans to provide such facilities to citizens, saying these parties need to rise above politics.
Delhi is scheduled to go to polls early next year and Opposition parties have been alleging that the AAP Government is giving "freebies" to woo voters. "Rajiv Gandhi (former Prime Minister) had said out of Rs 100 spent for welfare of people, Rs 85 goes into corruption and just Rs 15 reaches people. We are saving that Rs 85 and giving facilities to the people of Delhi. Then what problem does the Opposition parties have if I am working towards the welfare of the people. They should get above politics in these matters," said the Chief Minister.
Further, speaking on the deployment of marshals in buses, Kejriwal said, "I warn all goons harassing women in buses that if you try to harass women there are marshals to take care of you."
Terming the free-ride scheme a gift from their brother on Bhai Dooj, he said whenever women have got equal opportunities they have excelled and this is an attempt by "us to provide that opportunity". "India will grow only when the women of the country grow. Giving free rides to women in buses can prove to be a very big step towards women empowerment," he said.
The Delhi Assembly has also approved a grant of Rs 150 crore for implementation of the scheme in metro trains. There are around 3,700 DTC buses and 1,800 buses under the cluster scheme of the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS).
Further, as per the officials, there are only 11 per cent working force consists of women and only 30 per cent of women daily travel in metro and buses. While, the 70 per cent men travel in bus and metro.