Free Bus Travel for Women in Bengal a ‘Game Changer’, Says Stree Shakti as State Joins 8 Others

 

 

Kolkata : Welcoming the rollout of free bus travel for women across West Bengal from June 1, women’s advocacy group Stree Shakti – The Parallel Force, led by founder Rekha Mody, along with Women Lead, on Monday hailed the initiative as a landmark step towards women’s empowerment, mobility and economic inclusion.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Club, Kolkata, representatives of the organisations described the policy as the culmination of nearly a decade of sustained advocacy aimed at making public transport more affordable and accessible for women.

With the implementation of the scheme, West Bengal has become the eighth state in the country to offer free public bus travel for women. The organisations said the move would significantly enhance women’s freedom of movement while easing financial pressures, particularly for those from lower-income households.

Calling the initiative a “big game changer”, Rekha Mody said that transportation costs often act as a barrier to women’s mobility and opportunities.

 

“A free bus travel pass for women removes the burden of cost from women with limited resources, allowing them to venture out freely. Women are facing a triple burden in our society. We congratulate the government for introducing free bus travel from June 1 and hope that states such as Assam, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh will also adopt similar measures,” she said.

Following the press conference, women participants undertook a symbolic bus boarding activity from the Press Club premises to mark the beginning of what organisers termed a “new era of accessible mobility for women”.

Speakers at the event stressed that affordable and safe transportation remains a critical pillar of women’s economic participation, education and social inclusion. They noted that the Bengal initiative demonstrates how long-term advocacy can translate into meaningful public policy outcomes.

The organisations also highlighted the economic impact of the measure, claiming that women could potentially save up to Rs 24,000 annually on transportation expenses. According to them, these savings could be redirected towards healthcare, education, nutrition and family welfare.

As West Bengal joins a growing list of states extending free travel benefits to women, advocates expressed hope that similar policies would be adopted across the country, further strengthening women’s mobility and financial independence.