In News:

The government has announced the upcoming introduction of ‘Sahkar Taxi’, a cooperative-based ride-hailing platform designed to directly benefit drivers by eliminating intermediary commissions.

What is ‘Sahkar Taxi’?

‘Sahkar Taxi’ is a ride-hailing service supported by the government, operated through cooperative societies. Unlike conventional app-based services such as Ola and Uber, this platform allows drivers to retain their full earnings, without deductions by middlemen or aggregators. It draws inspiration from existing app-based models but is fundamentally driven by cooperative principles.

Why is ‘Sahkar Taxi’ Needed?

• Concerns Over Commission Charges: Leading ride-hailing apps have faced criticism for imposing high commission fees, reducing the take-home earnings of drivers.
• Pricing Transparency Issues: Allegations of differential pricing based on the type of user device (e.g., iPhone versus Android) have sparked doubts regarding fairness and transparency.
• Driver Challenges: Centralized control by large platforms often leaves drivers with limited negotiation power and inadequate income security.

Importance and Impact of ‘Sahkar Taxi’

• Driver Empowerment: By establishing a cooperative ownership model, drivers gain a stronger stake in the business, leading to improved financial stability.
• Decentralized Economic Participation: The initiative encourages local involvement and collective growth, aligning with the government’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).
• Sustainable Alternative: It presents a viable, inclusive option to the dominant profit-driven ride aggregator market, focusing on equitable benefit sharing.
• Enhanced Consumer Confidence: The cooperative framework promotes transparent pricing and greater accountability in digital service delivery, fostering trust among users.