Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath launched the Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yatra, a scheme offering lifelong free travel in state-run buses for women aged 60 and above. He presented the initiative as aimed at giving elderly women greater mobility, dignity and independence rather than merely providing free transport. The government estimated that around 88,438 women would benefit from the scheme each day. Eligible women will receive special smart cards to facilitate identification and hassle-free travel across the state and the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) will operate flagged-off special buses for the service. As a Raksha Bandhan measure the administration allowed all women to travel free with one companion on UPSRTC and city buses from August 27 to 29. The chief minister travelled on one of the buses, interacted with beneficiaries and distributed smart travel cards. The government also announced that 50,000 female undergraduate students would receive scooters in October and November, a promise originally made in the 2022 manifesto. Officials framed the initiatives as part of a broader effort to enhance women's security, self-reliance and economic participation. They cited schemes such as Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, Ujjwala and Jal Jeevan Mission and emphasised direct benefit transfers and housing support. Citing official figures the administration said women's workforce participation in the state had risen from 12 per cent before 2017 to 36 per cent and that the target was 50 per cent. The number of women police personnel had increased from around 10,000 in 2017 to 45,000 and ongoing recruitment of 32,000 personnel was expected to raise the figure to about 50,000. Authorities described reforms including Mission Shakti Kendras, AI-based Safe City systems, pink booths and integrated 1090 and 112 response mechanisms as measures strengthening safety. The chief minister cited Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar and said the measures sought to uphold women's dignity. The scheme would help women travel for medical care and visit relatives without relying on family. Officials said the state had 125 million (125 mn) women and aimed to build an ecosystem to support employment.