Sahkar Taxi: A cooperative solution for everyday commuters | Fusion - WeRIndia

Taxis have become an essential part of daily life for millions, providing a convenient and often necessary mode of transportation.

In busy cities and towns, they offer a reliable means of getting to work, school, medical appointments, or social gatherings.

With the rise of app-based ride-hailing services like Ola and Uber, the accessibility of taxis has been revolutionized.

However, these services, despite their convenience, have also sparked debates around pricing practices and commission cuts, leaving both drivers and passengers dissatisfied.

In a bid to address these concerns, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently announced the launch of Sahkar Taxi, a cooperative-based taxi service aimed at giving drivers control over their earnings.

This new initiative, set to challenge the dominance of ride-hailing giants, eliminates third-party intermediaries and allows drivers to directly benefit from their hard work, free from commission cuts.

The service will offer taxis, rickshaws, two-wheelers, and four-wheelers under cooperative societies, modelled on app-based services but structured around the cooperative principle, ensuring that drivers remain at the centre.

Sahkar Taxi is designed to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation).

This vision emphasizes the power of cooperative models in fostering economic growth.

Furthermore, Amit Shah explained that the Ministry of Cooperation has been working for over three years to make this initiative a reality.

In addition, within a few months, the cooperative taxi service will be launched across the country.

This announcement comes at a time when traditional ride-hailing platforms like Ola and Uber are under scrutiny for inconsistent pricing.

Recently, reports emerged suggesting fare discrepancies based on users’ phone types, leading to consumer complaints.

As taxis continue to play a vital role in modern urban living, initiatives like Sahkar Taxi seek to ensure that drivers are better compensated, and consumers can enjoy fair and transparent pricing.

With this new cooperative model, the future of taxi services looks more equitable and driver-friendly.

Image Credit: Petar Miloševi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TAXI.jpg