In a significant push towards cooperative empowerment, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has outlined a transformative vision for taxi drivers under the proposed ‘Bharat Taxi’ cooperative model. The initiative aims to redefine drivers not merely as commission-based workers but as stakeholders and owners in the mobility ecosystem.
Speaking about the idea in New Delhi, Shah emphasized replacing the term “driver” with “Saarthi,” symbolizing dignity, partnership, and self-respect. The initiative seeks to ensure that those who work tirelessly on the roads become rightful participants in the profits they help generate.
The ‘Bharat Taxi’ model is not structured like a private profit-driven company. Instead, it is rooted in cooperative principles aligned with the Antyodaya philosophy—uplifting the last person in the economic chain. Under the proposal, any driver can become a shareholder by purchasing a ₹500 share, gaining ownership rights in the cooperative.
The revenue-sharing structure is designed to prioritize drivers. Around 80 percent of earnings would go directly into the accounts of Saarthis, ensuring income proportional to their work. The remaining 20 percent would be reinvested to strengthen the system and build long-term sustainability. For the first three years, the focus will remain on expansion rather than profit maximization, with equal profit distribution planned thereafter.
The initiative also envisions representation of Saarthis on the Board of Directors, ensuring policy decisions are guided by real on-ground experiences. This structural reform reflects Shah’s broader cooperative strategy, which has gained institutional momentum under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Over the next three years, the plan aims to expand Bharat Taxi operations to every municipal corporation across India. Supporters describe it as not just a transport service but a national cooperative movement in the mobility sector—focused on empowerment rather than corporate dominance.
If implemented effectively, the Bharat Taxi Cooperative Model could reshape India’s ride-hailing landscape by giving drivers ownership, financial stability, and a stronger voice in governance.
