Bharat Taxi offers partnership at just Rs 500, commits to share 80% of its profits: What government’s new scheme promises taxi drivers across India

Bharat Taxi offers partnership at just Rs 500, commits to share 80% of its profits: What government's new scheme promises taxi drivers across India


In a major push to promote cooperative entrepreneurship and fair wealth distribution, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah recently unveiled the Bharat Taxi cooperative model, under which, Sarathis, or drivers can invest just Rs 500 to become co-owners of the company and can also have a share in the company’s profits.
Sarathi Didis, or female drivers, can also become part of the Bharat Taxi scheme.

The initiative aims to empower ‘Sarathis’, taxi drivers, by giving them ownership rights, profit-linked income, and representation in decision-making, while expanding Bharat Taxi’s footprint across every municipal corporation in India within the next three years.

Shah said that Bharat Taxi has been established by bringing together five major cooperatives of the country. He stated that as the number of ‘Sarathis’ increases, any ‘Saarthi’ who wishes to become a partner will gain ownership rights by purchasing shares worth Rs 500.

Sarathis can become board of directors

Shah also added that when elections for the Board of Directors of Bharat Taxi are held, certain seats will be reserved for Sarathis. Once Sarathis become part of the Board of Directors, they themselves will safeguard and represent the interests and concerns of other drivers, says Shah.

Drivers’ profit sharing formula in Bharat Taxi

In the Bharat Taxi scheme, 20% of its total revenues will be deposited to Bharat Taxi’s account as Sarathis’ capital, and 80% of the money will be returned to Sarathis’ accounts based on how many kilometres the taxi has travelled. The first three years will be spent on expanding Bharat Taxi, and any profits made after that will be split 20% with Bharat Taxi and 80% with Sarathi brothers, says Shah.