Delhi: Will Free Bus Travel Services For Transgender Community Help?

In a remarkable move, New Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, announced free bus services for the transgender community. The AAP government has taken this step to address the social neglect faced by the community and provide them with equal rights. With this move, it has become the first government in the past 75 years to provide free bus travel to the transgender community. 

As per the reports, the government aims to launch the service within the next few weeks. The proposal is waiting to get approved by the cabinet post which transgender community will be able to avail of the free bus travel services. Puffed up with pride, Kejriwal said that the government has already begun the process of implementing the service. 

What did the CM say?

हमारे सामाजिक परिवेश में किन्नर समाज की काफ़ी उपेक्षा की जाती है। ऐसा नहीं होना चाहिए, वे भी इंसान हैं और उन्हें भी बराबर के अधिकार हैं। दिल्ली सरकार ने फ़ैसला किया है कि दिल्ली की बसों में अब किन्नर समाज के लिए भी सफ़र एकदम फ़्री होगा। जल्द ही इसे कैबिनेट से पास करके लागू कर… pic.twitter.com/3Wa560gKEk

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 5, 2024

Kejriwal said, "Ek acchi khabar deni hai (Want to give some good news). “In the last 75 years, no govt in the country has done any good work for the kinnar (transgender) community. Delhi government is taking a big step and making it free for members of the community to travel on public buses. Like women, members of the kinnar community will get free safar in Delhi govt-run buses.”

He also said, "The transgender community is largely neglected in our social environment. This should
not happen; they are also human beings and they also have equal rights."

Free bus travel for women in Delhi has been successful

This step comes after the Delhi government made bus travel free for women in October 2019. While announcing the free bus service for the transgender community, he counted on the success of making bus travel free for women.  Approximately 14 lakh women have availed themselves of this service including working women, college students, street vendors and more. A staggering 147 tickets have been issued to women travellers in Delhi till today. 

By extending this service of free bus travel to the transgender community, the Delhi government aims to manifest similar changes and developments in their lives.