Dharamshala: Run up of petrol and diesel prices further pushing public transporter Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) into a debt trap notwithstanding, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today launched a scheme here of reducing the fares for women passengers when travelling within the state by as much as 50 percent.
With much fanfare, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and transport minister Transport Minister Bikram Singh came riding a HRTC bus from the main bus stand to the venue where the state level scheme was launched. Ms Seema Thakur, the first woman bus driver with HRTC, was in driver seat with the chief minister and other dignitaries as passengers on the occasion.
To launch the scheme, the chief minister issued concessional tickets to women commuters under a ‘Naari Ko Naman’ scheme. Under this scheme the State Government will provide 50 percent concession on fare in HRTC buses to to all women commuters from today. The scheme was announced on Himachal Day (15th April, 2022) and now stands implemented.
At the launch of the new scheme, the chief minister also announced that the government would sanction 25 new posts for female drivers in ‘Ride To Pride, a government taxi service operated by HRTC. The service is for female passengers and senior citizens of HP.
Launch of the Naari Ko Naman scheme come barely 3 months ahead of general state assembly elections that are due to be announced.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
