4 days ago

Uttarakhand Expands Women-Focused Measures With Free Travel and E-Buses

Free travel at 60, pink e-buses and bigger loans: Uttarakhand expands women-focused measures · livemint.com

Uttarakhand has announced several new measures to support women.

Women aged 60 and older will be able to ride state buses for free.

Ten electric buses in Dehradun will be reserved for women and called pink e-buses.

More pink buses may be introduced in other parts of the state later.

New public toilets will be designed with women’s privacy and safety in mind.

Women will also be able to seek larger concessional loans to start or grow businesses.

The government says many women are already earning through self-help groups and entrepreneurship.

It hopes women will create jobs for others as well as find work for themselves.

Key facts

Senior women’s travel: Women aged 60 and above will be eligible for free travel on state Roadways buses; the existing concession applies to senior citizens above 65.
Pink e-buses: Ten electric buses operating in Dehradun will initially be reserved for women.
Planned electric buses: Uttarakhand is to receive 137 electric buses under the Prime Minister e-Bus Sewa, with 100 proposed for Dehradun.
Self-employment loan limit: The concessional loan limit will increase from ₹2 lakh to ₹2.50 lakh.
Self-help group loans: The government provides interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh for self-help groups.
Lakhpati Didis: The Chief Minister said 3.09 lakh women in Uttarakhand had become Lakhpati Didis.
Women’s representation: The state provides 30% horizontal reservation for women in government services.

livemint.com · 4 days ago