Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah had an interaction with the drivers of ‘Bharat Taxi’ services in the national capital. In this conversation, the Union Minister said that strengthening the cooperative sector has been a top priority of the government and that those who work hard will rightfully earn the profits.
Amit Shah launched India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, ‘Bharat Taxi,’ in Delhi on February 5. It is aimed at directly benefiting the drivers. While interacting, he listened openly to all the concerns and suggestions of the drivers and reiterated that strengthening the cooperative sector is the government’s main agenda.
Understanding Cooperation Ends Doubts
In this conversation, Shah stated, “If you properly understand the thinking and functioning of cooperation, such questions will not arise. Cooperation means working together and earning together. Amul is the biggest example.” He gave the example of the dairy cooperative and explained how it was built by millions of women who initially contributed small amounts and strengthened the institution.
Moreover, he said that the cooperative sector now manages a business worth about Rs 1.25 lakh crore, showing how small beginnings can grow into major success when people work together. He also urged the cooperation department to publish on its website the list of women who have supplied milk worth over Rs 1 crore to the dairy in a year.
‘The Owners Are You’
“Here, the owner is none other than you,” said Shah while interacting with the drivers of ‘Bharat Taxi.’ He said that while other companies typically focus on enriching the owners, the goal of ‘Bharat Taxi’ is to make the drivers prosperous.
Regarding the benefits and contribution method, he explained that drivers need to contribute Rs 500 to become stakeholders. After three years, if the platform earns Rs 25 crore, 20 percent of the profit will be added to the institution’s capital, while the remaining 80 percent will be distributed based on the number of kilometers driven by each partner.
“This means you will receive the fixed fare, and since you are the owners, you will also get a share in the profits. However, you will need to remain patient for the first three years,” he said.
Not a Private Profit Model
The sole purpose of Bharat Taxi is to empower people instead of focusing on profits, and it is not designed as a private firm, said Amit Shah. Moreover, he assured that all the accounts will remain transparent and that information would be shared in advance. “Bharat Taxi will never exploit you,” said Shah during the meeting.
Launched With Support of Five Cooperatives
The initiative of Bharat Taxi was started with the help of five major cooperative institutions due to capital limitations. As participation grows, any driver can become an owner by purchasing a Rs 500 share. He also mentioned that reserved positions for drivers will be created when the board of directors is elected to safeguard their interests.
Minimum Fare Guaranteed
In the end, he assured that Bharat Taxi will maintain full transparency and that the minimum fare will never go below the fixed base rate. Any additional profit will be added if it goes above this minimum fare.
