There is dire need that people, especially those who often question the government’s functioning should change their viewpoint in context with the services which are being provided to the public by utilizing the exchequer.
In this regard, a report has come to fore divulging that under the government’s free transport service for women in Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) has incurred losses amounting to Rs 14 crore since the exemption was announced. Reportedly, the JSCL operates the Smart Bus service in Jammu and functions under the Government’s domain, which mandates free travel for women passengers under the scheme. This information has been given in response to an application submitted under Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The Smart Bus service, operated under JSCL, provides free travel to women-a measure announced by the NC-led Government as one of its commitments in J&K in April last year. While the free service is also operational in Kashmir, the estimated cost incurred there is yet to be ascertained. The so-called losses in Jammu have been calculated up to December 31, 2025. Now the big question is why this dissipation of exchequer is not considered as government spending for public welfare, and is being treated as a loss? There seems to be some misconception in this matter as considering government spending on extending services to public as loss is totally unjustified because in this particular case the only difference is that the bounty is exclusive for fair sex members of the society only.
If the expenditure on public welfare initiatives will be treated as loss to government then every penny spent on public infrastructure, healthcare sector, education, roads and drains, etc should also be considered as a loss to government because the money used is part and parcel of public exchequer, and if that kind of spending is rightful then why not giving free rides to women of J&K in public transport is being seen with the same prism?
If government spends money on making sheds for bus stops, and the expenditure is not considered as loss, then how the aforesaid facility to women in public transport constitutes to be a loss. It seems that the repeated highlighting of this issue has some political motives which needs to be probed and as far as expenditure on this service meant exclusive for women should be taken as a another good step by the welfare state and the whole gamut should be looked at with changed perception that the people at helm have taken this initiative as a goodwill gesture and not something to siphon of the exchequer.
There are many other schemes and bounties being offered by the governments at the centre and in different states like 5 Kg free ration etc but some entities are after this very scheme in J&K, which is intriguing.
All said and done, public welfare spending should not be mischaracterized as a loss rather than social investment and free transport for women should be viewed in the same light as other welfare expenditures.
