DK Shivakumar Says Free Bus Pass, Welfare Schemes Meant Only For Karnataka Locals
Shivakumar says welfare benefits will remain reserved for locals.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has clarified that the state's newly announced free bus pass scheme for students will be available only to residents of Karnataka, stressing that the benefit is intended exclusively for local students. The announcement came a day after the state government approved free bus travel for students as part of a broader welfare initiative.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the scheme could not be extended to students from other states. He emphasised that government welfare programmes are designed for the people of Karnataka and reiterated that the free bus pass initiative would remain restricted to eligible students from the state. His remarks came amid discussions over the scope of the scheme and who would qualify for the benefit.
The free bus pass programme was among the major decisions taken during a recent Cabinet meeting. According to Shivakumar, the initiative was introduced after repeated demands from students across Karnataka, particularly male students who questioned why free travel benefits were previously available only to female students under existing schemes. The government said the new policy aims to ease the financial burden on families and improve access to education.
Also Read: DK Shivakumar Says “Lot Of Vacancies” As Karnataka Cabinet Row Over No Women Grows
Describing the move as a significant step towards supporting young people, Shivakumar said the government was committed to investing in student welfare and education. He stated that the administration was prepared to allocate the necessary funds to ensure that students could travel free of cost for educational purposes, regardless of the expenditure involved.
In addition to the transport scheme, the Karnataka government announced plans to establish a state-supported employment exchange to connect job seekers with opportunities in the private sector. Shivakumar said the framework for the initiative would be finalised within a month and indicated that local candidates would receive priority consideration under the proposed system.
The Deputy Chief Minister also revealed that recruitment for approximately 56,000 government vacancies is currently underway. He said the government would soon release a detailed recruitment schedule, underscoring its focus on expanding employment opportunities for the state's youth. The announcements form part of the government's broader efforts to address education, employment and welfare concerns across Karnataka.
Also Read: G Parameshwara Set to Return as Karnataka Deputy CM: Dalit Pioneer With a PhD and Decades of Loyalty
