Similar schemes are already in operation in neighbouring Telangana & Karnataka, both Congress-ruled states. ‘Stree-Shakti’ scheme is expected to cost AP govt Rs 1,942 cr each year.
WRI India paper says scheme increased women bus user’s average travel distance from 7.92 km to 10.52 km, enabling them to travel far and wide. Paper relies on survey of 2,010 commuters.
Referring to videos purportedly showing women using scheme to pass time, KTR said they could 'break dance' if they wished. Women's body has issued notice to him for appearance.
Welfare programmes like Ujjwala or Shakti offer women precious moments of social time away from monotonous unpaid work, catering to the needs of the average woman voter.
A poor Muslim man from Kurnool, selling khoya buns during the Medaram Jatara in Telangana, was harassed by some YouTubers and surrounded by a mob over allegations of 'food jihad'.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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