Lucknow, August 26: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a free bus travel scheme for women over 60 years old on Wednesday. During the inauguration of the ‘Lokmata Ahilyabai Maatrushakti Yatra Yojana’ at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, he sharply criticized the Samajwadi Party (SP) for its record on women’s safety, pensions, corruption, and law enforcement.
Adityanath stated that previously, the slogan ‘Dekho Sapaayi Betiya Ghabraayi’ was prevalent in the state. Now, the government has integrated women’s safety with systematic measures and technology. He emphasized that anyone who compromises a daughter’s safety will face jail or worse. The government’s goal is to create a Uttar Pradesh where daughters can go out, study, work, and return home safely at night.
Before 2017, there were no effective systems for women’s safety, respect, and self-reliance in the state. There were no adequate helplines, command centers, or a comprehensive CCTV network. He accused the previous government of allowing middlemen and corruption to affect government schemes, preventing women from receiving the full benefits of assistance.
Today, services like Mission Shakti centers, AI-based Safe City networks, and emergency numbers 1090 and 112 are available for women’s safety. According to the Chief Minister, the number of female police officers has increased from about 10,000 in 2017 to nearly 45,000 now, with expectations of surpassing 50,000 after upcoming recruitments.
Adityanath criticized the SP for previously providing only 300 rupees as a pension to women, which was often marred by corruption. His government now provides eligible women with 12,000 rupees annually, directly transferred to their bank accounts. Legal action will be taken against anyone attempting to withdraw or tamper with the funds.
He highlighted various government initiatives aimed at supporting women from birth through education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The Kanya Sumangala scheme provides financial assistance at different educational stages, while the collective marriage scheme also offers economic support.
The Prime Minister‘s Ujjwala scheme has not only alleviated the smoke from cooking but also protected women from related health issues. The government has expanded basic facilities like toilets and piped water to ease women’s lives. Adityanath pointed out that previously, mafia and disorder dominated the state, causing families to worry about the costs of education and marriage instead of celebrating the birth of a daughter.
He noted that before 2017, daughters were afraid not only to catch a bus but also to dream. Since then, the government has created an environment for women’s safety and self-reliance, increasing their economic participation. The initiatives like Ujjwala, Kanya Sumangala, collective marriage, and women’s safety programs are not just government schemes but means to support women at various life stages.
During the program, he launched the ‘Lokmata Ahilyabai Maatrushakti Yatra Yojana’, allowing women over 60 to travel free on state transport buses. The government estimates that around 88,438 women could benefit daily from this initiative.
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, from August 27 to 29, women will be able to travel free with a companion. After this period, the permanent free travel facility will be available for eligible women in Uttar Pradesh.
Adityanath stated that this scheme, named after Lokmata Ahilyabai, signifies convenience, respect, and self-reliance for elderly women. The government aims to ensure that age does not hinder women’s mobility, allowing them to travel anywhere in the state without financial burden. Special smart cards will be issued to identify eligible women and streamline travel arrangements, with an estimated additional financial burden of 22.55 crore rupees monthly on the government.
During the event, the Chief Minister interacted with women from across the state. A woman from Unnao expressed gratitude for the scheme, stating that she would no longer need to rely on her family for travel expenses. The transport department confirmed that the free travel arrangement for women will last for three days during Raksha Bandhan, with GPS and panic button features implemented in buses for their safety.
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