CM Arvind Kejriwal interacts with women commuters in Delhi bus

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday toured on a Delhi public bus and interacted with women commuters during the ride. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) started a free-ride scheme for women on Tuesday on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. "Participation of women in the workforce is 11%. This step will make travelling easier for women. It is sad that opposition is criticising it. All good work should be appreciated," said CM Kejriwal while talking to the fellow commuters.

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Free-ride scheme

The scheme is intended to help women empowerment by bridging the gender gap that exists in society, the Chief Minister said on his mobile application 'AK App'. "Now, girls and women who had to drop out of schools and colleges because of high transportation costs 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.

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Pink tickets

Women taking DTC and cluster buses were on Tuesday issued pink tickets of the face value of Rs. 10 by conductors under the scheme. The government will reimburse transporters based on the number of such tickets issued. Bus rides for senior citizens and students might be made free too in the coming days, Kejriwal said on the app, which was launched by him ahead of the assembly polls. "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.

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Push back against opposition criticism

The AAP national convenor slammed his rivals for questioning his plans to provide such facilities to citizens, saying some things need to be "above politics" and these parties need to realise this. 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 the welfare of people, Rs. 85 goes into corruption and just Rs. 15 reaches people. We are saving those 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," Kejriwal said.

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