Now Reading: IUML-run panchayat seeks review of Kerala free bus scheme
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IUML-run panchayat seeks review of Kerala free bus scheme
The Othukkungal Panchayat in Malappuram, governed by the IUML, has passed a resolution demanding a review of the Priyadarshini scheme, the state-run KSRTC free travel programme for women. The motion, moved by…
The Story in Brief
The Othukkungal Panchayat in Malappuram, governed by the IUML, has passed a resolution demanding a review of the Priyadarshini scheme, the state-run KSRTC free travel programme for women. The motion, moved by welfare standing committee chairman Khamaruddin, specifically asks the government to exclude salaried employees from the scheme.
The panchayat said the scheme has hurt private bus operators and transport workers by causing a sharp fall in passengers. It argued that government personnel already get fixed salaries and state benefits, and that the scheme should target lower-income groups instead. This is the first open demand for a review within the UDF, of which the IUML is a key constituent.
The Indian Opinion
The IUML panchayat's resolution exposes a rare crack in the consensus on freebies. The narrative that such schemes are universally popular is false when they crush private enterprise. But the government will now face a test: will it tweak Priyadarshini to save private buses, or defend it as a women's safety measure? To settle the question, we need data on how many of the scheme's users are, in fact, salaried women.
Source: english.mathrubhumi.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
