© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
A Bengaluru man, Kiran Kumar, has sparked a debate online after sharing his thoughts on Karnataka’s free bus travel scheme for women during his recent trip from Bengaluru to Mysuru. Posting on X, Kumar’s thoughts, along with a selfie taken during the journey, have gone viral, garnering over 1.3 million views.
Kumar described his early morning ride on a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus, which cost him Rs 210. Praising the “world-class highway” that made for a smooth and quick trip, he turned his focus to the free travel initiative for women. Out of the 50 passengers on board, he noted 30 were women who travelled without paying. They used their Aadhaar cards to avail the scheme.
“Is this fair? Is it equality?” Kumar questioned in his post, pointing out that the remaining 20 passengers, men, effectively bore the cost of the journey for everyone through their fares.
He also recounted an incident on the bus that he found particularly thought-provoking –– an elderly man struggled to gather enough money for his ticket, while a young woman, who appeared “well-off”, and was casually chatting on a video call, travelled without paying. “Is that fair?” he asked, suggesting that such scenarios undermine the idea of targeted welfare.
Kumar raised concerns about the logic of providing free travel for everyone, especially in cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru, where a significant portion of the population can afford to pay. He argued that the funds could be better utilised, either by ensuring free travel universally or by tackling urgent civic problems such as clearing garbage, repairing potholes, or addressing water shortages faced by farmers.
The post ignited a debate online, with people sharing a wide range of perspectives.
One user wrote, “I have travelled in BMTC 2-3 times after the freebie announcement, and I have to say most of the women who travel in the bus are daily wage workers or blue-coloured employees. I don’t endorse freebies normally but seeing that felt good.”
Another user commented, “Everything needs money to run. It has to come from somewhere! If somebody is getting a freebie means somebody other is paying extra!”
Another person said, “Safe travel is a right for women, not free.”
