{
  "id": 15379968,
  "title": "Vettri Payanam scheme plunges auto and private bus operators into livelihood crisis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/vettri-payanam-scheme-plunges-auto-and-private-bus-operators-into",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T08:39:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/vettri-payanam-scheme-plunges-auto-and-private-bus-operators-into-livelihood-crisis/article71599308.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The recently expanded Vettri Payanam no-fare bus scheme in Tamil Nadu has sparked a livelihood crisis for auto-rickshaw drivers and private bus operators. The initiative, aimed at empowering women and providing financial relief, has unexpectedly led to a sharp decline in daily collections for these transport workers. Auto-rickshaw drivers and private bus owners have expressed their struggles to make ends meet due to plummeting earnings. The Madras High Court dismissed a plea to declare the scheme unconstitutional, granting the petitioner the opportunity to find alternative remedies under the law. Despite the government's efforts to promote women's empowerment, the drastic shift in commuter habits has left traditional transport providers on the brink of closure, threatening job losses for thousands.",
  "summary": "Auto-rickshaw drivers and private bus operators lamented that their daily collections have plummeted drastically, leaving them struggling to make ends meet",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}