It had been lengthy cherished dream of Hanamakka from Yadgir district in North Karnataka to go to Dharmasthala as soon as in her life, which she lastly achieved on the age of 65 on Sunday. Coming from a distant village in Yadgir, the sexagenarian had by no means dreamt that she may ever journey the farthest south western area of the state, since cash was a constraint.

Courtesy the ‘Shakti’ scheme, one of many ensures of the Congress authorities in Karnataka, Hanamakka like lakhs of different ladies is now entitled to journey freed from price in non-luxury buses operated by state-owned transport firms.

The scheme has enabled ladies from all strata of society to journey wherever they need inside the state at zero journey expense since June 11.

With the brand new power, ladies are measuring the size and breadth of Karnataka in authorities buses.

One of essentially the most sacred locations of Karnataka, Dharmasthala on the financial institution of River Netravati within the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada, has grow to be the choicest vacation spot for girls, who’re thronging there in hordes.

On Sunday, which occurred to be an Amavasya, the brand new moon day, a whole bunch of girls took a holy dip within the Netravati river and paid their obeisance to Lord Manjunatha, one other title for Lord Shiva in Karnataka.

While Dharmasthala tops the checklist of most favoured vacation spot, there are different locations too the place ladies are speeding.

With new discovered ‘Shakti’, ladies are going to locations like Savadatti Yellamma temple in Belagavi, Chamundi hill in Mysuru, 18th century AD Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan’s capital Srirangapatna, Nanjangud in Mysuru, Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapura, Kudalasangama in Bagalkote, Mookambika Temple and Krishna Temple in Udupi, Gol Gumbaz in Vijayapura, Basavakalyan in Bidar, Kittur in Belagavi, Hampi in Vijayanagara district, Anjanadri Hill in Koppal, Male Mahadeshwara temple in Chamarajanagar and Chitradurga fort in Chitradurga district.

Among the 4 state-owned transport firms, the buses of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) are working jam-packed.

Only the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses working in Bengaluru metropolis are by and huge untouched by the mad rush as seen in different transport company buses.

These State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses had been speculated to have 50 per cent reservation for males however most of them are occupied by ladies solely.

Women jostling for house and youngsters pushed inside the federal government buses from window to occupy seats have grow to be a typical sight on the bus stands.

In Kollegala city in Chamarajanagar district, the door of a KSRTC bus broke and fell off because it couldn’t bear the load of girls who swung on them to get contained in the crowded bus to Male Mahadeshwara Temple to supply particular prayers to Lord Shiva on the event of Amavasya.

According to the Karnataka Transport Department, since its launch on June 11 the scheme has price the state exchequer Rs 70.29 crore as 3.12 crore ladies have travelled freed from price in state-owned buses until June 17.

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