Context
Recently, the Union Home Minister launched ‘Bharat Taxi’, a cooperative-led ride-hailing platform for auto drivers from Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, aimed at providing a more democratic and profitable alternative to private aggregators.
1. Bharat Taxi: The “Amul Model” of Transportation
- Operational Philosophy: The platform follows the successful ‘Amul model’, which transformed India’s dairy sector by returning maximum value to the primary producers (drivers).
- Profit Sharing: Unlike private aggregators that retain high commissions, Bharat Taxi will distribute 80% of its profits to the drivers based on the kilometers driven.
- Cooperative Capital: The remaining 20% of the profits will be retained as cooperative capital to sustain and grow the organization.
- Fixed Base Rate: To ensure fair earnings, the platform guarantees a minimum base rate per kilometer for all its associated drivers.
2. Ownership and Governance Structure
- Representation: As the membership grows, seats on Bharat Taxi’s Board of Directors will be specifically reserved for driver representatives.
- Self-Governance: This structure allows driver representatives to challenge policies that might be unfavorable to the workforce, ensuring the board remains accountable to the workers.
3. ‘Saarathi Didi’ and Safety Features
- Women’s Empowerment: The app features a dedicated ‘Saarathi Didi’ mode, which prioritizes female drivers for women passengers traveling alone.
- Safety and Livelihood: This feature is a “collective responsibility” to ensure both the safety of female commuters and increased livelihood opportunities for women in the transport sector.
With reference to ‘Bharat Taxi’, recently seen in the news, consider the following statements:
I. It is a cooperative-led ride-hailing platform.
II. It aims to provide a more profitable alternative to private aggregators.
III. It was launched by Ministry of Social justice.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II and III only
d) I, II and III
Answer: B
Explanation:
• Statement I is correct: Bharat Taxi is a newly launched cooperative-led ride-hailing platform. It follows the 'Amul model', which is a successful cooperative business structure in India.
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• Statement II is correct: The platform's primary goal is to provide a more profitable alternative to private aggregators. It achieves this by returning 80% of the profits directly to the drivers based on the distance they drive, while the remaining 20% is retained as cooperative capital.
• Statement III is incorrect: The platform was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, not the Ministry of Social Justice. He announced the initiative while addressing a town hall interaction with cab and auto-rickshaw drivers in New Delhi.
