The Kerala government’s decision to offer free travel for women in KSRTC ordinary buses has stirred controversy. The All Kerala Men’s Association has announced protests on the day the scheme is set to begin. The organization plans to protest in front of the Secretariat and has warned of potential bus blockades as part of their demonstration.
In a social media post, the group stated that its members would protest by boarding buses and traveling without purchasing tickets. The president of the All Kerala Men’s Association, Vattiyoorkavu Ajith Kumar, criticized the government’s move to provide free travel without any income or age restrictions. He questioned why even high-income earners should receive free travel benefits.
Named ‘Priyadarshini’, the scheme is part of the state government’s Indira Guarantee program and will start on June 15. Initially, women will be allowed to travel free in KSRTC ordinary buses without any income, age, or category-related eligibility conditions. The government views this initiative as a unique welfare measure in Kerala to enhance women’s mobility and accessibility.
Despite its welfare intentions, the scheme poses a substantial financial burden for KSRTC. The government estimates an annual revenue shortfall of approximately Rs 750-800 crore due to the free travel initiative. To address this, the state government has pledged to compensate KSRTC for the losses and enhance revenue generation through various means, such as increasing bus numbers and improving advertising income.
The government has assured additional financial support to KSRTC, in addition to the existing Rs 1,500 crore annual assistance for salaries and pensions. The future of the Priyadarshini scheme’s second phase will depend on the corporation’s financial standing. The controversy surrounding the scheme has evolved beyond welfare discussions into a broader social and political discourse, especially with the All Kerala Men’s Association planning protests on the launch day.
