3 new Indira schemes in the offing

With the  Assembly elections  in mind, the state government has decided to launch a BMTC bus service, named after former prime minister Indira Gandhi, to  cater exclusively to women garment workers in the city.

"There are two lakh female garment workers in Bengaluru. A committee headed by the transport secretary will soon identify routes based on the location of the garment factories," Transport Minister H M Revanna told reporters. The Indira Sarige will ferry garment workers at subsidised fares.

The government will also launch a new bus pass named after Indira. The Indira Pass will be issued free of cost only to female labourers in the unorganised sector in Bengaluru.

"The pass will carry similar fare rebates that come with passes that are issued to students, senior citizens and the differently-abled," Revanna said.

The fare subsidy on Indira Sarige and Indira Pass will be borne in part by the employers of the female labourers, Revanna added.

On Saturday, Revanna is scheduled to launch Indira Clinics at the Majestic and Yeswanthpur bus stations. The clinics will provide primary healthcare to drivers and commuters.

Earlier this year, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government launched the popular chain of affordable eateries, Indira Canteens, in Bengaluru. The government and the party celebrated the birth centenary of the late prime minister  with much fanfare recently.