Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the Priyadarshini Scheme will provide free travel on KSRTC ordinary buses for women and transgender persons [1].

The initiative aims to lower travel costs and increase access to employment, education, and essential services for marginalized groups [2]. By removing financial barriers to mobility, the government intends to foster greater economic participation among women and the transgender community [2].

The announcement was made in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, May 18, 2024 [1], [3]. The policy applies specifically to ordinary buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) [1], [4].

While the core travel is free for the eligible individuals, certain conditions remain. Reports indicate that women traveling with families are still required to pay for tickets and luggage [4]. This distinction ensures that the subsidy targets the individual passenger, rather than accompanying dependents or cargo.

This move was part of the cabinet's first set of decisions under Satheesan's leadership [1]. In addition to the transportation scheme, the government said it created a first-of-its-kind department dedicated to the elderly [1], [3].

The Priyadarshini Scheme represents a significant shift in state welfare spending, prioritizing mobility as a tool for social equity [2]. By integrating transgender persons into the free travel mandate, the state expands the scope of traditional gender-based subsidies to be more inclusive of diverse identities [2].

“The initiative aims to lower travel costs and increase access to employment, education, and essential services.”

The Priyadarshini Scheme aligns Kerala with a growing trend of gender-based transport subsidies across Indian states to boost female workforce participation. By explicitly including transgender persons, the state is signaling a broader interpretation of gender equity in public policy, though the exclusion of family-related costs suggests a targeted approach to prevent budget overruns.