by It is June 2023 and Shakti scheme is in complete force in the state of Karnataka, India, thanks to a policy by the new elected Government.
While it is hugely debatable whether this policy will benefit the section of the society in the long run or drain the state in its financial aspect or be a boon to women who perhaps need it the most.
Nevertheless I decided to use it even though I was in a huge dilemma, if I should use it or not. So Shakti scheme in Karnataka gives the opportunity to women in Karnataka to travel for free in the state using KSRT buses. This is not applicable to Volvo, AC or luxury buses.
It was ages since I had travelled in a government-run bus though I have earlier travelled quite extensively in Volvos and continue to use metros for large part of my commute in a month.
After researching on where I could go using KSRTC bus, I zeroed on Hassan from where I could travel to Shettihalli Church. The idea was to finish a trip in a day and be back by night. One has the option of travelling to Tumkur, Chitradurga, to be finished in a day.
This was in the backdrop of multiple and disheartening videos being circulated on the huge rush of KSRTC buses with a huge influx of women passengers. Many videos and reports strongly suggested women and men passengers were disappointed with the new scheme as buses were crowded, there were quarrels to get seats and so on. Yet I decided to try and use the opportunity and use my luck. So I left home by 5.15 am and reached Majestic Bus stand using the metro. It was reassuring to find other women travel early morning by metro and a handful of them were there travelling. Solo women travellers will agree with me that when we spot local women in cities, using public spaces, it reveals the safety net for people and character of the city.
I reached my platform where the buses to Hassan had to leave. I could do this quickly as I had gone to Majestic bus stand the previous day to check out my options and even figure out an alternative option of travelling to another destination, just in case it is too crowded in the bus or any other inconvenience.
My journey was for roughly 3hours 10 minutes since the time the red KSRTC bus left Majestic bus stand. During the journey from Bangalore to Hassan, the driver also ensured passengers had a ten minute break at a hotel to have a quick breakfast. Of course, on boarding, I was asked to show the Aadhar card and voila I had my ticket in hand. The ticket would have otherwise come at a price of Rs.245/- one way which I was anyhow ready to pay. (One should note that Karnataka residents, Aadhar card of Karnataka women are valid for Shakti scheme.)
There were early morning showers in Bangalore and the weather was cloudy and pleasant. The entire bus was occupied with men and women and it wasn’t crowded (no passengers were standing). It was also incidentally a non-stop bus to my luck so many opted not to travel by this bus.
I was just thrilled that I had chosen a random date to explore a new place. On reaching Hassan, I had to choose a mode of transport to reach Shettihalli Church. After waiting for some time at the Old bus stand I observed there was no local bus at sight and there was hardly any assuring information shared by bus conductors on whether buses to Shettihalli village will arrive or not.
Looking at the weather forecast it indicated it might rain heavily post noon so I had to decide quickly if I would use an auto rickshaw or wait for a bus. I decided to utilize my time more effectively and take an auto. I had to bargain with a few and finally agreed to pay Rs, 550/- for two hours to and fro.
The road to Shettihalli Church after a boring route on National Highway soon turned out to look like a scene from a beautiful book with lush green fields on either side and picturesque mountains too.
Google maps, information beforehand, the ability to take decisions to explore and yet be safe, these contribute to women travel solo and be safe. This scheme did indeed at least gave me an opportunity to use public transport after decades and explore a new destination.
We finally reached the church which looked truly abandoned and is in ruins. It reminded me of a few castles near Scotland. Shettihalli Rosemary church has the advantage it is on a river bank but most of its structure is seen crumbling down.
Somehow it looks eerie, haunting and yet picturesque because of the river and open landscape. It was built in the 1860’s by the French missionaries in India and represents Gothic structure. Apparently the church looks even better when it is half submerged in water, during peak monsoons and is an Instagrammable spot.
However when I reached, there were around six more people who had arrived in cars and were taking pictures of the landscape and structure. Soon I was the only one to be there at the spot until an ice cream vendor cart came there hoping for more tourists for the day. It was time for me to quickly munch on my breakfast that I had packed from home and enjoy the moment.
Shettihalli church is believed to be crowded during weekends and during sunsets for people who want to take their pictures.
After spending about half an hour at the destination, I decided to head back with my auto and dashed to the KSRTC bus stand at Hassan after quickly wrapping up a South Indian meal at a hotel.
To my luck, I again found a non-stop Hassan to Bangalore bus and we left at 12.45 noon. After checking the ID card, I was handed over the ticket and we reached Bangalore by 5pm. It was time for me to hop on to the nearest metro station to avoid peak hour traffic and get back home at the earliest.
Overall it was a good experience and now I do feel even without this scheme it is time for women like me to explore more one-day trips using public transport. The more we travel, the better the facilities will get in due course of time.
( All photographs are subject to copyright).
