Implementation of "Shakthi" scheme raises concerns among girl students in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: Following the announcement of the "Shakthi" yojana by the Karnataka government, which provides free bus services for women across the state, students in Bengaluru have expressed concerns about decreased bus availability and overcrowding during peak hours.
The "Shakthi" Yojana, one of the five flagship guarantees promised by the Congress government, was inaugurated on Sunday, allowing women, including transgender, to travel for free in non-luxury and city buses operated by state government, throughout the state.
However, on the first day of its operation, several female students raised complaints about the reduction in bus services. They observed a larger than usual crowd at bus stands, causing delays and overcrowding. Neha Pradhan, a student at St. Paul's College, shared her experience, stating, "My friends and I noticed an unusually large crowd at the bus stand near Sapthagiri Engineering College. Despite waiting for 15 minutes, the bus did not arrive as it normally would with a frequency of two minutes. As a result, we had to take a private bus towards the 8th mile."
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Disha. P, another student from the same college who frequently travels from Kunigal to Bengaluru city, also faced similar challenges. She had to wait for long hours for the bus to arrive, and when it did, it was overcrowded. She said, "I saw women arrive in large numbers at Binnamangala and other areas."
Nithya, a student of MLaC College, shared a similar experience. She mentioned the difficulty of boarding buses due to the increased crowd, especially considering the presence of multiple women's colleges near the Malleshwaram vicinity.
When approached for comment, a BMTC bus conductor working on the BC-7B 8th Mile to Byadarahalli route, where students had complained of reduced services, stated that the bus services ran as usual on their route. However, he acknowledged witnessing a large number of women passengers on that day.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
