The Karnataka government’s ambitious Shakti Scheme which provides free travel to women on state-run buses — has faced a disputed speed bump. A startling incident reported on a BMTC bus today, in which a female passenger was red-handed trying to get a free ticket using an Aadhaar card that clearly did not belong to her.
The incident has raised broader questions about the “leakage” in the scheme itself and the immense pressure on conductors to confirm the identity of thousands of passengers every day.
The Confrontation: ‘Lakshmamma’ vs Reality
The story progressed against the backdrop of a routine ticket check. When the conductor approached a woman who was wearing a face veil (niqab) to retrieve her ID proof card, she handed over an Aadhaar card with the name “Lakshmamma” on it. Experienced and alert at once, the conductor saw a gap between the passenger’s appearance and the card.
The passenger said repeatedly to him that if he would verify whether the card actually belongs to her then, "I am Lakshmamma, this is my card."
The "Face-Off"
Sensing a scam, the conductor refused to give the zero fare ticket and demanded that this woman face and verify the photo on Aadhaar card. After some heated arguments and the woman repeatedly saying that the ID was real, the conductor stood his ground. When she finally did show her face, it was evident that the woman was no closer to the photo on the "Lakshmamma" ID.
The passenger was a Muslim community member believed to have availed herself of the free travelling benefits using a Hindu woman's ID. Conductor’s Stand: "Don't Kill the Scheme". The conductor took the chance to educate the passengers rather than merely handing her over to the police. In a video, obtained by another traveler, the conductor sternly instructs the woman and others on the bus:
“This facility is for your benefit from the government. Using someone else’s ID you’re not just going to cheat the department; you’re going to kill the vigor of the Shakti Scheme. If this goes on, the system will fail for everyone.” The Increasing Issue of ID Fraud. KSRTC and BMTC officials have observed more and more “identity borrowing” from the time the Shakti Scheme was introduced.
Most passengers possess photocopies or electronic copies of Aadhaar cards owned by relatives or neighbors. The standard: Passengers need to have a proper government issued ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Driving License), which show the photo.
The Penalty
Though most conductors will now release passengers with a warning or request that they pay their full fare, Transport Department officials have been mulling tougher fines for intentional identity theft. Such “minor frauds” have reportedly been reported the most along the Marathahalli and Majestic routes, leading the BMTC to consider installing handheld digital scanners to confirm IDs in real time.
