Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has launched the “Divyang Shakti” scheme, offering free bus travel to individuals with disabilities as part of a move towards social equity and mobility. The initiative was unveiled in the greenfield capital city of Amaravati.
Billed as a special gift for the Ugadi festival, the Divyang Shakti scheme aims to enhance mobility and “last-mile dignity” for those with disabilities. In a symbolic gesture, Naidu traveled with beneficiaries on Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses post-launch, commuting from Mangalagiri bus station to Penumaka village, approximately 11 km.
The scheme is projected to benefit over 12.76 lakh individuals, including 11.16 lakh persons with disabilities and their attendants. This makes it one of the largest state-led mobility support programs for the differently-abled in India, according to government reports.
Key features of the scheme include free bus travel for people with disabilities across APSRTC services, a 50 percent fare concession for attendants accompanying beneficiaries, and eligibility for individuals with over 40 percent disability. The initiative covers 21 categories of disabilities, with the government planning to spend Rs 207 crore on its implementation through the APSRTC.
In a coordinated statewide rollout, MLAs simultaneously launched the scheme in their respective constituencies, traveled with the beneficiaries, and participated in community outreach events. The launch of Divyang Shakti follows the success of the “Stree Shakti” scheme, under which women in Andhra Pradesh have undertaken over 52 crore free bus journeys, backed by a government outlay exceeding Rs 1,826 crore.
Recently, Naidu introduced the Draft Population Management Policy aimed at raising the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) amid an aging workforce in the state. This initiative offers incentives for families having a second or third child.
