The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Delhi State, has urged Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to expand the ambit of the Saheli Pink Smart Card Yojana so that migrant women workers employed in the national capital can also benefit from free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses.
In a letter dated August 9, 2026, BMS Delhi Pradesh General Secretary Dr. Deependra Chahar requested the Chief Minister to consider extending the scheme to female workers who live outside Delhi but travel to the capital every day for employment.
The union argued that a large number of women workers contribute to Delhi’s economy but remain excluded from the scheme because eligibility is currently linked to having an Aadhaar card with a Delhi address.
BMS Highlights Problems Faced by Migrant Women Workers
According to the letter, many women working in Delhi are migrants from other states. They are employed across several sectors, including domestic work, shops and establishments, construction sites, contractual jobs and institutions operated by the government.
The union said these workers often commute to Delhi on a daily basis because the cost of renting accommodation in the city is beyond their financial means.
As a result, migrant women workers who live outside Delhi may have to spend a significant portion of their earnings on daily transportation. BMS said that despite their contribution to Delhi’s economy, these women are unable to access the benefits of the Pink Smart Card scheme because they do not possess an Aadhaar card carrying a Delhi residential address.
The union has therefore called for a broader eligibility mechanism that recognises employment in Delhi rather than residential status alone.
Demand for Job Card or Employment Identity Card-Based Eligibility
BMS has specifically requested that migrant women workers be permitted to access the free travel facility using a job card or job identity card.
The proposal is aimed at establishing a worker’s employment connection with Delhi even if her permanent or residential address is located in another state.
The organisation maintained that many of these women are low-paid workers who already have limited access to social security and healthcare benefits. According to the union, affordable or free public transport could provide significant financial relief to such workers.
The demand also comes against the backdrop of rising commuting expenses in large cities, where workers living on the outskirts or in neighbouring states frequently travel long distances for employment.
Union Calls Migrant Women ‘Deserving’ Beneficiaries
In its representation to the Chief Minister, the labour organisation described the affected women as among the workers most in need of public transport support.
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BMS argued that women engaged in low-income occupations often have limited financial resources and face multiple challenges while commuting to and from work. For such workers, free DTC travel could reduce their daily expenditure and potentially increase the amount of income available for household needs.
The union also pointed out that these workers contribute to Delhi’s economic activity through their employment in households, businesses, construction projects, contractual services and government-run institutions.
By seeking eligibility through job or employment identity cards, BMS believes the government could create a system that includes genuine workers without necessarily requiring them to establish Delhi residency.
Appeal to Delhi Government for Early Decision
The letter was addressed to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, with a copy marked to the Delhi Transport Minister. BMS requested the Delhi government to examine the proposal and take a favourable decision.
The organisation said extending the facility to eligible migrant women workers would help address an important gap in the existing scheme and provide financial assistance to a section of the workforce that often remains outside formal welfare structures.
However, the letter represents a request from the labour organisation, and it does not indicate that the Delhi government has accepted or implemented the proposed expansion.
The demand could now put the focus on how Delhi’s public welfare and transport schemes balance residency-based eligibility with employment-based needs. If the proposal is considered, the government would also need to determine the mechanism for verifying employment, preventing misuse and identifying eligible workers.
For thousands of women who travel to Delhi every day from neighbouring areas and states, any expansion of the Saheli Pink Smart Card Yojana could have a direct impact on their daily commuting costs.
The BMS representation has therefore brought migrant women workers into the ongoing discussion over access to affordable public transport and welfare benefits in the national capital.
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