Amit Shah formally launched India’s first cooperative-based taxi service ‘Bharat Taxi’
Amit Shah yesterday formally launched India’s first cooperative-based taxi service ‘Bharat Taxi’ in New Delhi. On this occasion, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar and Shri Murlidhar Mohol, and Cooperation Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, along with several dignitaries, were present. More than 1,200 “Sarathis” (driver partners) from various States participated in this historic programme, reflecting broad support for Bharat Taxi’s driver-empowerment and cooperative-ownership-based model.
Addressing the programme, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Ministry of Cooperation is developing an ownership-rights model for people working in the unorganised sector. He said that within three years, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Dwarka to Kamakhya, Sahakar Taxi will become a very big medium for the welfare of our taxi Sarathis. Shri Shah said that when he first raised the subject of Sahakar Taxi before Parliament, many people—especially companies connected with taxi operations—questioned why the government was entering the taxi sector. He said such people do not know the difference between ‘Sahakar’ (cooperation) and ‘Sarkar’ (government). Shri Shah said the government is not entering the taxi sector; rather, cooperation (Cooperation) is entering the taxi sector.
Union Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that perhaps for the first time in the whole world, such a unique company is coming into existence whose real owner is neither any individual nor any external company, but the Sarathi who drives the taxi. Every Sarathi brother-sister associated with Sahakar Taxi is the true owner of this cooperative taxi society. He said this concept will bring a fundamental transformation in the life, self-confidence, and economic condition of the Sarathis who join Sahakar Taxi. Shri Shah also said that many such models have succeeded in our country earlier. Only 11 milk producers started Amul. Today, in Gujarat, a huge banyan tree of more than 36 lakh women livestock-rearers has taken shape. These women livestock-rearers do business worth more than one lakh twenty-five thousand crore rupees. He said this model shows that when ordinary people themselves become owners, even a small beginning can yield very big results. He said that today, women livestock-rearers are earning up to one crore rupees annually by selling milk, which is the marvel of the cooperative model.
Shri Amit Shah appealed to taxi Sarathis that they are driving taxis now; they will continue to drive taxis even after joining Sahakar Taxi, but there will be one major difference between the two. He said that at present, the wheel of the taxi puts money into someone else’s pocket, but now the earnings from the wheel of the Sarathis’ taxis will go into the Sarathis’ own pockets. He said this idea is born from the spirit of cooperation. The real meaning of cooperation is that when many people with small amounts of capital pool their strength, they can together accomplish very big tasks. Those with very large capital do big work alone and the profit also remains limited to only a few people. Shri Shah said that the cooperative model being discussed today is the newest and most successful beginning in today’s time. He said now the wheel of the taxi will not run for someone else’s earnings, but for the prosperity and well-being of taxi Sarathis.
Union Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that many world-class cooperative models have already been built in India, including Amul, IFFCO, KRIBHCO and similar institutions. He said none of these cooperative institutions had very large initial capital. Similarly, in Sahakar Taxi, the highest share capital is only 500 rupees, and that very 500 rupees is giving Sarathis the status of real owners. He said this small amount is going to become the foundation of the taxi Sarathis’ hard work, self-respect, and economic freedom.
Shri Amit Shah said that after elections held every five years, two representatives chosen by taxi Sarathis will sit on the Board. They will look after their interests and take decisions for them. This is the soul of cooperatives and the spirit of true ownership rights. He said Sahakar Taxi will keep only 20 percent of the total profit with itself; that is, out of 100 rupees, Sahakar Taxi will keep only 20 rupees with itself—whose owners are Sarathis themselves. Shri Shah said the entire profit will go into the account of the Sarathi associated with Bharat Taxi. He said the owners of the 20 rupees that remain in Bharat Taxi’s capital account will also be Sarathis themselves.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that Bharat Taxi has been conceptualised by bringing together all three existing types of taxi vehicles, including four-wheeler taxis, three-wheelers, and two-wheelers. He conveyed a message to the nation’s Matri Shakti that Bharat Taxi will accord the highest priority to their safety. He said we have prepared a special concept of Sarathi Didi under which, in the coming time, there will be a separate window for ‘Sarathi Didi’ in the app, through which any woman who registers will be picked up only by ‘Sarathi Didis’. Shri Shah said ‘Sarathi Didis’ will arrive on two-wheelers and will safely take women to their destination at a very low fare. He said this facility will prove to be a very big and practical relief for women. In the coming days, through Sarathi Didi, the nation’s Matri Shakti will have access to an option of safe, affordable, and dignified travel. This is not merely a service, but an important step towards women’s safety, self-reliance, and dignity.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that Bharat Taxi has entered into agreements (MoUs) with a total of nine major institutions including Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Airport Authority, IFFCO Tokio Insurance, State Bank of India. Through these agreements, Bharat Taxi’s customers will get many additional facilities, and at the same time, all these institutions will be able to avail Bharat Taxi’s services easily. He said these institutions have now become stakeholders in Sahakar Taxi’s success. This new taxi concept based on an ownership model has been launched for the first time in India today, which not only brings the spirit of ownership rights for Sarathis, but also presents a reliable and convenient option for passengers and various institutions
