Karnataka govt's Shakti scheme creates world record for most women travelled in public transport
Bengaluru, Aug 18 (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday said the state's Shakti Yojana guarantee scheme has set a world record for the largest number of women passengers travelling on public transport.
“Between June 11, 2023 and July 20, 500 crore women passengers travelled on ticketed journeys. This feat has entered the Golden Book of World Records,” said the minister.
US-based Golden Book of World Record (GBWR) is an Exclusive International Book of Records that aims to give a platform to people or organisations to have their name in the “golden pages of history”.
The minister thanked Karnataka State Regional Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporations for the historic achievement.
“The hard work, dedication and honest service of all the staff is commendable. The cooperation of the labour leaders cannot be forgotten as well,” he added.
The Shakti Yojana Guarantee Scheme was implemented immediately after he assumed office as the transport minister for the second time, he said.
“Five to six years prior to that, no new buses were added to the transport corporations, which were debt ridden. Given that, the success now, a result of collective work, has given me immense pleasure,” said Reddy.
According to him, in the two years of Shakti Yojana, 5,800 new buses were added to the transport corporations, as well as 10,000 new recruitments were made. He also said the Karnataka government has pumped in Rs 2,000 crore to pay off loans.
Reddy also cited ‘Beyond Free Rides’ Sustainable Mobility Network’s study conducted on free bus travel for women in cities and said the number of female employees has increased by 23 per cent in Bengaluru and 21 per cent in Hubli-Dharwad due to Shakti Yojana.
The minister said this has led to an increase in the per capita income of the state.
“The fact that several other states in the country are now implementing similar schemes -- under different names and with suitable adaptations -- stands as a testament to the success of our government’s Shakti Scheme,” he added.
Meanwhile, taking to 'X', Chief Minister Siddarmaiah said the credit for the achievement should go to the "mothers and sisters of Karnataka", who travel daily for purposes such as employment, education and medical treatment.
"From the day it was launched, Shakti Yojana, is a bold step towards women's empowerment," he added.
ಶಕ್ತಿ ಯೋಜನೆ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಿತ ವಿಶ್ವ ದಾಖಲೆಗೆ ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆ Golden Book of World Recordsನಲ್ಲಿ ದಾಖಲು- ಅತೀವ ಸಂತಸ ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ಕ್ಷಣ.
— Ramalinga Reddy (@RLR_BTM) August 18, 2025
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಮಹತ್ವಾಕಾಂಕ್ಷೆ ಯೋಜನೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಬಲೀಕರಣದ ದಿಟ್ಟ ಯೋಜನೆಯಾದ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಯೋಜನೆಯು Golden Book of World Records ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮಹಿಳಾ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಸಿರುವ… pic.twitter.com/HMqN2npqpk
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PoK will 'reintegrate with India soon', says head of All India Imam Organisation
Srinagar (PTI): Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, on Friday said Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would "very soon" be reintegrated with India.
"I want to say one thing to our neighbouring country from standing here in Kashmir that PoK, which is an integral part of India, will definitely rejoin India because the people of PoK want to have a referendum there," Ilyasi told reporters here.
He claimed that the residents of PoK are keen to reintegrate with India, citing the development and prosperity witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir.
"God willing, their 'ghar wapsi' will take place soon. It is the people there who want it. They are happy to see the development of Kashmir. Seeing how Kashmir is progressing today, PoK will be rejoined with India very soon," he said.
The chief Imam said he was very happy to see a "transformed" Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.
"It has become a new Kashmir. Today's Kashmir has become excellent; there is prosperity throughout, and tourism has increased. The people here are prosperous. There was a time when young people and children here used to throw stones. Today, they have pens in their hands. They are studying," he said.
Referring to last year's terror attack in Baisaran meadows in Pahlagam that left 25 tourists and a local pony handler dead, Ilyasi said tourism had briefly declined after the incident but urged people to visit the region.
"I want to tell everyone that they should visit Kashmir as there is no atmosphere of fear now," he said.
On the conflict in West Asia, he said war benefits no one and expressed hope for peace.
"Wars harm everyone; they are a sign of destruction. I have hopes from our country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, and God willing, he will mediate, and the war will end soon... there will be peace and tranquillity," he said.
