Context: Reports indicate that many transgender persons in Delhi are facing difficulties in obtaining ‘Pink Saheli’ smart cards, despite being officially included as beneficiaries under the free bus travel scheme.
About The Pink Saheli Cards:
What It Is?
- Pink Saheli is a smart-card-based free bus travel scheme launched by the Delhi Government in March 2025 for women and transgender persons travelling on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses.
Aim:
- To ensure affordable and accessible public transport for women and transgender persons, enhancing their mobility and participation in economic and social activities.
- To provide a transparent, digital, and beneficiary-linked system for delivering transport subsidies while promoting gender inclusivity.
Key Features:
- Free Bus Travel Benefit: Eligible women and transgender persons can travel free of cost on Delhi government-operated buses using the smart card.
- Smart Card-Based Digital System: The scheme replaces paper-based pink tickets with a reusable digital card linked to passenger identity records.
- Inclusive Eligibility Framework: Official guidelines recognize both women and transgender persons as beneficiaries under the scheme.
- Aadhaar-Based Verification: Card issuance and validation are linked to identity verification, enabling streamlined beneficiary management and monitoring.
Significance:
- The scheme recognizes transgender persons as equal beneficiaries of public welfare programs, supporting social justice and inclusion.
- Free public transport reduces financial barriers and improves access to education, employment, healthcare, and public services.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
- GS Paper II – Governance
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- Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections
- Social Justice and Rights-Based Policies
- E-Governance and Digital Service Delivery
- GS Paper I – Society
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- Issues Related to Women and Transgender Communities
- Social Inclusion and Empowerment
- GS Paper IV – Ethics:
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- Human Dignity, Compassion and Inclusiveness
- Equality and Social Justice in Public Administration
