Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will turn a 'bus conductor' on Sunday - June 11. Yes, you read it right as the move has surprised the people of the state. Why he will be donning up the role of conductor? To launch the 'Shakti' scheme, permitting the women to travel free in state-owned buses.

While the promise of free bus travel for women by the Congress party got a good reception, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's move to turn a bus conductor to launch the scheme is expected to confer a large coverage for it to reach out to the common people. According to reports, Siddaramaiah will have an interaction with the passengers and as a conductor, he will also distribute tickets to them. 

It has been reported that Siddaramaiah will turn conductor in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus route number 43. The bus will start from Bengaluru's Majestic area and will end near the Vidhana Soudha. After reaching the Vidhana Soudha, Siddaramaiah will also be addressing a public function about the scheme. 

Free bus travel for women in the state-owned buses is one of the five major poll promises given by the Congress party during the recently-held assembly polls in Karnataka. The Congress party recorded a thumping victory with a historic majority and ousted the BJP regime. After a week-long deliberation within the party, Siddaramaiah has become the Chief Minister of Karnataka. 

While the scheme of free bus travel for women will be launched on Sunday - June 11, the scheme to distribute 10 kgs of free rice to the families that are below poverty line will be launched on July 1 in Mysuru. The Griha Lakshmi Scheme, which will be awarding Rs 2,000 monthly financial aid to women heads of the households, will be inaugurated on August 15 on the occasion of 76th Independence Day. 

The other two schemes - Griha Jyothi Scheme, which will be providing free electricity to all households, and the Yuva Nidhi Programme, which will be awarding Rs 3,000 allowance for graduates who passed out this year and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders will be inaugurated within this year. However, the official dates to implement these two schemes are yet to be finalised.

While the Yuva Nidhi programme will be launched in Mangaluru, the Griha Jyothi scheme will be inaugurated in Kalaburagi. It is pertinent to note that soon after becoming the Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah passed the orders to implement these five major schemes.