Thiruvananthapuram, June 15 -- Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Monday said that the new Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) free bus service is "not an act of charity" towards women, adding that they should be able to travel with pride in a government-run bus.

Satheesan lit a lamp at the flag-off event of the 'Priyadarshini scheme' under which women and transgender persons will be provided free travel on KSRTC buses.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Minister said, "Today marks the first phase of the free bus travel scheme for women announced under the Indira Guarantee. It was from here that Sree Chithira Thirunal flagged off the first transport bus service 110 years ago. In 1965, the Kerala State Road Transport Cor...