A crisis on wheels in Kerala

The article discusses the 'Priyadarshini' free bus ride scheme for women launched by the Kerala government, highlighting its immediate financial unsustainability and negative socio-economic impacts. The scheme has exacerbated the debt crisis of the State-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and led to significant losses for private bus operators and auto-rickshaw drivers, prompting calls for agitation. Critics point to the lack of prior financial viability assessment and suggest a more targeted approach for beneficiaries to ensure sustainability, drawing parallels with past populist policy failures.