Context: 

The Karnataka government has implemented the “Shakti” scheme, which offers women free bus travel in non-premium services by state-run road transport corporations. 

Historical Context:

• In the 19th century, when the introduction of women’s education necessitated their movement from the home to the school, it was met with a huge backlash.
• Early Indian women pioneers like Savitribai Phule, Anandibai Joshi, and Kadambini Ganguly faced backlash and discrimination for their pursuit of education and professional careers.
  • Kadambini was one of the first practicing female doctors in India with a degree in western medicine.
  • Savitribai Phule was one of the early female teachers of India and 
  • Anandibai Joshi was the first Indian woman to be trained in medicine in the US
• Women today enjoy greater mobility and social acceptance, but challenges and restrictions remain due to patriarchal norms and fears of safety.

Significance of the Scheme: 

• Emancipatory Possibilities and Expanded Opportunities:
  • Free access to transportation expands women’s choices and opportunities, allowing them to fulfill emotional, economic, social, and personal needs.
  • It enables women to make spiritual pilgrimages, visit their natal families more frequently, break from domestic routines, access educational institutions and workplaces of their choice, and explore leisure and pleasure activities.

• Impact on Economically Marginalized Women:
  • The scheme will have a major impact on economically marginalized women who support their households and work in low-paid jobs or as street vendors.
  • It allows them to save a portion of their meager earnings, expands their travel options, and introduces the concept of leisure travel.
  • It fosters a sense of community among women travelers, providing opportunities for friendship and shared activities beyond their usual kinship and work structures.

Challenges and Limitations

• Women’s mobility may still be limited by economic dependence, internalized patriarchal restrictions, fear of backlash or sexual harassment, and inadequate social and institutional support.
• Patriarchal curtailments, both external and internal, may hinder the full realization of women’s mobility and its transformative potential.

Conclusion: 

• State-supported mobility for women can bring significant changes to their lives and the organization of society.
• When women have the means to travel to their chosen destinations, it can lead to a more egalitarian and liberating society, albeit with obstacles along the way.

News Source: The Indian Express