Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, officially launched the ‘Divyang Shakti’ scheme on Wednesday at the Mangalagiri bus stand. This initiative, introduced by the coalition government as a special Ugadi gift, provides free travel in APSRTC buses for approximately 11.16 lakh differently-abled individuals across the state. Following the inauguration, the leaders traveled alongside beneficiaries in a ‘Palle Velugu’ bus from Mangalagiri to Undavalli, using the journey to personally interact with the passengers and discuss the welfare measures being implemented for their community.
The scheme marks a significant expansion of social security for the differently-abled, covering 21 different categories of disabilities. Under this program, eligible individuals with more than 40% disability can travel for free in approximately 74% of the RTC fleet, including Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City, and Express buses. During the launch event, CM Naidu emphasized that the government is committed to the holistic development of the specially-abled, noting that pension amounts have already been increased to ₹6,000, and up to ₹15,000 for those with severe spinal injuries or total bedridden conditions.
To avail of this benefit, beneficiaries are required to present their SADAREM certificate or a valid RTC-issued pass. While the free travel applies to non-premium services, the government has also ensured a 50% fare concession for designated assistants accompanying individuals with high levels of disability. This move follows the success of the ‘Stree Shakti’ free bus scheme for women and is expected to significantly reduce the financial burden on differently-abled students and employees residing in rural areas who frequently travel to urban centers for work and education.
