‘Shakti’ Scheme

• The Karnataka government has launched ‘Shakti smart cards’ to Provide free travel to women in state-run buses, starting from June 11.
• The government has already issued a set of guidelines on the ‘Shakti’ scheme, which is one of the major poll promises by the Congress party in Karnataka.
• According to the transport department of Karnataka, women can apply for Shakti smart cards through sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in from June 11.
• Government buses in Karnataka ferry about 40 lakh women daily.
• The number is expected to rise by 10 percent under the free travel scheme, which will cost the government about Rs 4,700 crore per year.

OTHER SCHEMES LAUNCHED BY KARNATAKA

• ‘Gruha Jyoti’ offering 200 free units of electricity to domestic consumers will be launched from Kalaburagi from July 1.
• ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme offering 10 kg scheme offering 10 kg free rice or food grain to the BPL families will be launched from Mysuru.
• ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme (Providing monthly financial assistance of Rs.2,000 to the head woman of a house), the Chief Minister said it will be launched on August 16 from the district headquarter town of Belagavi.
• ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme offering unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 to the graduates and Rs 1,500 to the diploma holders, Siddaramaiah said those graduates and diploma holders who passed the exams in 2022-23 will get the allowance for 24 months if they do not get job within six months of passing their exam.