Northeast female students in Delhi 'stranded' under BJP's new bus policy

Students from Northeast India and other parts of the country who travel to Delhi for higher education or to prepare for competitive exams and often rely on public transportation, have been excluded from the BJP-led Delhi government’s new bus policy, which offers free rides exclusively to women who are residents of Delhi.
 

Under this initiative, women will be issued smart cards that replace the earlier Pink Card system launched by the Aam Aadmi Party. According to the BJP, this change is intended to reduce corruption, streamline the process, and enhance efficiency in public transport services.

However, it has sparked concerns, particularly regarding its inclusivity. Kamal Tiwari, Secretary of the CYSS (student wing of the Aam Aadmi Party) in Delhi, alleged that this policy might negatively impact out-of-state female students, as they could be excluded from availing this benefit due to the residency requirement.

Out-of-state students include a large number of students from the Northeast who rely on public transportation to manage their daily commute affordably, and they may now be excluded.

Speaking to India Today NE, Niharika Phukon from Assam’s Golaghat district, pursuing her higher education in Delhi stated, “I know many of my friends who are from Northeastern states - Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura... They cannot afford metro tickets and are entirely dependent on the free bus service. So if this scheme is really revoked then their financial condition will be affected. And if Delhi govt's aim is really promote women empowerment and promote education I don't think that it shouldn't matter where the woman is coming from.”

While the intention behind the policy may be to support local women and curb misuse, it inadvertently overlooks a vulnerable group that also faces economic and social challenges. As Delhi continues to be an educational hub for students across the country, ensuring equitable access to public services, regardless of state of origin, remains a key concern.

Regarding the new bus policy, Yaser Jilani, BJP Delhi spokesperson, speaking exclusively to India Today NE, stated, “The previous government was deeply involved in corruption, particularly in the name of providing free bus tickets to women. They would issue 100 tickets to women daily but would create fake bills for 200 tickets, siphoning off public money from the treasury. Our primary goal is to end this corruption under the guise of giving free tickets.”

“As for the claim that out-of-state female students are being excluded, those are mere rumours spread by the supporters of Arvind Kejriwal. I’ve personally reviewed the new bus policy, and there is no mention of excluding out-of-state women.”
 

He further added, “To combat this corruption, we've implemented a few changes. Everything we're doing aligns with the commitments we made in the BJP manifesto, and we're focused on turning those promises into reality.”

Replying to the BJP spokesperson’s allegations on AAP’s corruption, Kamal Tiwari, Secretary, Delhi CYSS (student wing of AAP), said, "I have a question for the BJP: when we were providing free tickets through the Pink Card system, where was the scope for corruption? In contrast, the new smart card system they propose actually opens the door to misuse. Since the smart card will be valid for a lifetime, it increases the chances of bribery and irregularities during the card issuance process. Therefore, the BJP’s allegations are baseless—their own policy carries a higher risk of corruption."