Amit Shah Unveils Bharat Taxi: A Cooperative Mobility Revolution
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has officially launched Bharat Taxi, a groundbreaking cooperative cab service designed to empower drivers across India. During a town hall interaction with cab and auto drivers from Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, Shah detailed the innovative platform that allows drivers to become co-owners by purchasing a share worth just Rs 500.
Drawing Inspiration from Amul's Cooperative Success
Shah drew a powerful parallel between Bharat Taxi and the iconic Amul Daily Cooperative. He highlighted how 36 lakh women invested merely Rs 50 each to build Amul, which now boasts a turnover of Rs 1,25,000 crore. "In a private dairy, profits go to the owner. In Amul, 85% returns to the producer. Bharat Taxi applies this same cooperative concept to mobility," Shah explained, emphasizing the model's fairness.
Driver Ownership and Board Representation
The minister underscored that as membership grows, seats on Bharat Taxi's board of directors will be reserved for driver representatives. "When the board considers policies against drivers, your representative will stand up and question—how can you do this to our company?" Shah stated, ensuring drivers have a direct voice in governance.
Guaranteed Minimum Base Rates and Profit Sharing
In a significant assurance, Amit Shah declared that Bharat Taxi will guarantee a minimum base rate per kilometer for all drivers, a feature he claimed existing ride-hailing aggregators deliberately avoid to maximize corporate profits. "I asked all three major companies if they had set a minimum base rate. They said no. We will not follow this practice," Shah told the gathering.
The platform commits to returning 80% of profits to drivers based on kilometers driven, with the remaining 20% retained as cooperative capital for growth and sustainability. "Whatever business you do, your minimum should be fixed. Any surplus beyond that must come back to you," Shah affirmed.
Ambitious Expansion Plans
Shah outlined ambitious goals for Bharat Taxi, targeting enrollment of 15 crore drivers within two years and expansion to every city with a municipal corporation within three years. Currently operational in Delhi-NCR and Rajkot, the service aims to revolutionize the ride-hailing industry nationwide.
This initiative represents a bold step towards creating a more equitable mobility ecosystem, prioritizing driver welfare and cooperative ownership over traditional corporate models.
