Since Revanth Reddy assumed office as the Chief Minister of Telangana, there has been a noticeable surge in temple revenues. Curious about the reasons behind this? According to a Deccan Chronicle report, it can be attributed directly to the rise in religious pilgrimages by families, a phenomenon spurred by the implementation of the free bus rides policy for women by the new Congress government.
"The Mahalakshmi scheme has resulted in increased earnings for temples as women in large numbers have utilised free bus services to visit Yadadri, Bhadradri, Kondagattu and other famous temples in Telangana state. The hundi collections of temples increased significantly since December last when the free bus scheme was introduced," the report says.
The report adds that women have saved a cumulative sum of Rs 1,177 Cr, thanks to the free bus rides.
Although freebies initially provide beneficiaries with extra money, they can be misleading over time. For instance, a woman may save Rs 1,500 per month on bus tickets (particularly in Hyderabad) due to such policies. However, she or her husband might find themselves allocating a similar amount to cover other expenses in the future, especially if government departments increase charges, such as revising power bills.
