The Government of India is set to take another significant step toward strengthening the cooperative sector with the launch of ‘Bharat Taxi’, a nationwide cooperative-based taxi service. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will formally launch the initiative under the flagship vision “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation). The launch event is scheduled to take place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking an important milestone in India’s efforts to empower cooperatives, create sustainable livelihoods, and promote inclusive economic growth.
Vision Behind Sahkar Se Samriddhi
The concept of Sahkar Se Samriddhi was introduced to revive, modernize, and strengthen India’s cooperative movement. Cooperatives have long played a vital role in India’s rural and semi-urban economy, especially in agriculture, dairy, credit societies, and small-scale industries. However, many cooperatives have struggled due to lack of modernization, limited access to technology, and competition from private players.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with focused efforts by the Ministry of Cooperation, the government aims to transform cooperatives into efficient, transparent, and people-centric institutions. The Bharat Taxi initiative aligns perfectly with this vision by bringing cooperatives into the fast-growing mobility and transport sector.
What is Bharat Taxi?
Bharat Taxi is envisioned as a cooperative-owned and cooperative-driven taxi service, providing an alternative to private app-based cab aggregators. Unlike conventional platforms, where drivers often work as partners with limited control and high commission charges, Bharat Taxi will operate on a cooperative model, ensuring fair earnings, ownership participation, and social security benefits for drivers.
The service is expected to integrate modern technology such as mobile applications, GPS-based tracking, digital payments, and centralized booking systems, while maintaining the cooperative ethos of shared ownership and collective growth. By doing so, Bharat Taxi aims to create a balanced ecosystem where drivers, passengers, and cooperatives all benefit.
Role of Amit Shah and the Ministry of Cooperation
Since the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation, Amit Shah has consistently emphasized the need to expand cooperative principles into new and emerging sectors. The launch of Bharat Taxi reflects this approach, extending cooperative participation beyond traditional domains into urban mobility and services.
As the Chief Guest at the launch event, Amit Shah is expected to outline the broader roadmap for cooperative-led initiatives in transport, logistics, and service delivery. He has repeatedly stated that cooperatives should not remain limited to rural areas but must also find relevance in urban India and among youth and professionals.
Empowering Drivers Through the Cooperative Model
One of the key objectives of Bharat Taxi is driver empowerment. In existing app-based taxi models, drivers often face challenges such as high commission rates, fluctuating incomes, and lack of long-term security. Bharat Taxi seeks to address these issues by:
- Allowing drivers to become members and stakeholders in the cooperative
- Ensuring transparent fare structures
- Reducing commission burdens
- Providing access to insurance, pension schemes, and welfare benefits
- Offering training in customer service, digital literacy, and road safety
This model not only improves income stability but also fosters a sense of dignity and ownership among drivers.
Boost to Employment and Self-Reliance
The launch of Bharat Taxi is also expected to generate significant employment opportunities, particularly for youth, returning migrants, and individuals seeking self-employment. By encouraging cooperative membership, the initiative promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), enabling individuals to earn sustainable livelihoods without being dependent on large private corporations.
Additionally, the initiative could encourage the use of locally manufactured vehicles, promote electric mobility in the future, and support ancillary industries such as vehicle maintenance, insurance, and training services.
Technology with a Human-Centric Approach
While Bharat Taxi will leverage modern technology, its distinguishing factor lies in its human-centric approach. The platform aims to balance efficiency with fairness, ensuring that technological advancement does not come at the cost of worker exploitation.
Passengers are expected to benefit from reliable services, transparent pricing, and wider availability, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities where private aggregators often have limited reach or inconsistent service quality.
Strengthening Cooperative Federalism
Bharat Taxi also reflects the concept of cooperative federalism, as state-level and regional cooperatives are expected to play an active role in implementation. This decentralized approach allows states to adapt the model to local needs while maintaining a unified national framework.
State cooperative federations, transport cooperatives, and urban cooperative societies may be integrated into the Bharat Taxi network, ensuring widespread participation and regional inclusivity.
Future Expansion and Sustainability
In the long term, Bharat Taxi could expand into related areas such as intercity travel, tourism services, last-mile connectivity, and even logistics. There is also scope for integrating electric vehicles (EVs) to support India’s climate goals and reduce urban pollution.
By reinvesting profits into cooperative development and member welfare, Bharat Taxi aims to create a sustainable and scalable model that can compete effectively with private players while staying true to cooperative principles.
A Landmark Initiative
The launch of Bharat Taxi under the Sahkar Se Samriddhi initiative represents more than just the introduction of a new transport service. It symbolizes the government’s commitment to inclusive growth, economic democracy, and people-first development.
With Amit Shah leading the initiative and the Ministry of Cooperation providing strategic direction, Bharat Taxi has the potential to redefine urban mobility in India while empowering thousands of drivers and strengthening the cooperative movement.
As India continues its journey toward becoming a $5 trillion economy, initiatives like Bharat Taxi highlight how traditional values of cooperation can be successfully blended with modern technology to create prosperity for all.
