**Executive Summary**
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah interacted with 'Sarathis' of Bharat Taxi. 'Bharat Taxi' aims to empower drivers ('Sarathis') by making them owners with a share in the profits and ensuring their welfare. The goal is to expand the service to every municipal corporation in the country in the next three years (by 2026).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Purpose and Objective:**
* The objective of 'Bharat Taxi' is to make the 'Sarathi' an owner in the company's profits, moving beyond a simple taxi scheme to one that transforms drivers into respected stakeholders.
* Bharat Taxi's aim is not only profit-driven but to strengthen the driver community by making them owners of the company.
* The initiative aims to resolve long-standing issues faced by 'Sarathis' and promote civic sense.
* **'Sarathi' Empowerment:**
* 'Sarathis' will have a share in the profits, easy access to loans and insurance.
* Sarathis will have representatives on the Board of Directors.
* Sarathi's can gain ownership rights by purchasing shares worth ₹500.
* The term 'Sarathi' will become a symbol of dignity and self-respect.
* **Operational Transparency and Support:**
* Bharat Taxi aims to be a transparent cab service, providing all information to 'Sarathis' through notifications.
* A complaint window will address all 'Sarathi' concerns.
* Bharat Taxi will establish a baseline kilometer rate to ensure minimum viability for Sarathis.
* 20% of Bharat Taxi's total earnings will be deposited into Bharat Taxi's account as the Sarathis' capital, and 80% of the money will be returned to the Sarathis' accounts
* **Expansion and Future Plans:**
* Bharat Taxi plans to expand to every municipal corporation in the country within three years.
* Initial three years will be dedicated to the expansion of Bharat Taxi.
* **Sarathi Didi Initiative:**
* 'Sarathi Didi' facility to empower women 'Sarathis' and ensure safety for women passengers and drivers.
* Solo female passengers will be given priority to a ‘Sarathi Didi’ driver.
**Impact Analysis**
**Sarathis (Drivers)**
* **Impact:** Become owners of the Bharat Taxi service with a share in the profits, enhanced dignity, improved welfare (loans, insurance), and a platform for grievance resolution.
* **Action Required:** Purchase shares to gain ownership rights.
**Passengers**
* **Impact:** Aim to provide safe and reliable transportation, with specific attention to the safety of female passengers via the "Sarathi Didi" initiative.
* **Action Required:** To receive the best possible services by prioritising the Bharat Taxi service.
**Taxi Companies**
* **Impact:** Encourage other taxi companies to improve the welfare of the Sarathis and to treat the customer well.
* **Action Required:** Re-evaluate practices to align with a driver-centric approach, potentially reducing commissions and providing better benefits to drivers.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat Taxi: A taxi scheme and initiative that aims to empower drivers (Sarathis) by making them owners with shares in the company's profits and improving their welfare.
Sarathi: The term used for drivers of Bharat Taxi, who are intended to become owners and have a greater say in the company.
Ministry of Cooperation: The ministry under whose aegis the Bharat Taxi initiative is being promoted.
Shri Amit Shah: The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, who interacted with the 'Sarathis' of Bharat Taxi and highlighted the benefits of the scheme.
Ministry of Cooperation
Union Home Minister and Minister of
Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah interacts with the
‘Sarathis’ of Bharat Taxi
‘Cooperation’ means giving those who labour a share in the
profits as well
The objective of ‘Bharat Taxi’ is to make the ‘Sarathi’ an
owner in the company’s profits
Bharat Taxi is not just a taxi scheme; it is an initiative to
transform driver brothers and sisters into respected ‘Sarathis’
The word ‘Sarathi’ will now become a symbol of dignity and
self-respect
Bharat Taxi will promote civic sense by bringing discipline to
both customers and Sarathis
Taxi companies reducing commissions and offering discounts
to passengers is an effect of the strength of ‘Bharat Taxi’;
their aim is not the convenience of drivers or passengers, but
to retain their position in the market
Bharat Taxi will pave the way for resolving the long-standing
issues faced by Sarathis
Representatives of Sarathis are also included on the Board of
Directors of ‘Bharat Taxi’
In the next three years, ‘Bharat Taxi’ will be present in every
municipal corporation in the country
By giving shares to Sarathis and making them owners, along
with providing insurance and easy loans, Bharat Taxi willbecome the first taxi service to offer such benefits
By providing every piece of information to Sarathis through
notifications, ‘Bharat Taxi’ will become the most transparent
cab service in the world
The ‘Sarathi Didi’ facility of Bharat Taxi will empower women
Sarathis to become self-reliant and ensure the safety of
women passengers and drivers
Through a complaint window, all concerns of Sarathis will be
addressed in Bharat Taxi
Posted On: 23 FEB 2026 2:42PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah interacted with the ‘Sarathis’
of Bharat Taxi in New Delhi.
During the interaction, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that those
who labour should be the ones who receive the profits. He stated that the objective is to make the taxi
owner prosperous, and the ‘Sarathi’ is the real owner. Shri Shah said that the ‘Sarathis’ are the owners of
Bharat Taxi and will also have a share in its profits. The Minister of Cooperation said, that in the coming
three years, ‘Bharat Taxi’ will be present in every municipal corporation across the country.
Shri Amit Shah said that Bharat Taxi has been established by bringing together five major cooperatives of
the country. He stated that as the number of ‘Sarathis’ increases, any ‘Saarthi’ who wishes to become a
partner will gain ownership rights by purchasing shares worth ₹500. Shri Shah added that when elections
for the Board of Directors of Bharat Taxi are held, certain seats will be reserved for Sarathis. Once
Sarathis become part of the Board of Directors, they themselves will safeguard and represent the interests
and concerns of other drivers.Union Minister of Cooperation said that the objective of Bharat Taxi is not to earn large profits like a
private company. He stated that the aim of Bharat Taxi is to strengthen our driver brothers. He said that the
shares of Bharat Taxi are held by the Sarathis, and they themselves are the owners; therefore, the policies
of Bharat Taxi will also be decided by the Sarathis. He added that Bharat Taxi is the drivers’ own
company, and cooperation should be its guiding principle. Bharat Taxi will harness the potential of
Sarathis, not exploit them.
Shri Amit Shah said that 20 percent of Bharat Taxi's total earnings will be deposited into Bharat Taxi's
account as the Sarathis' capital, and 80 percent of the money will be returned to the Sarathis' accounts
based on how many kilometres the taxi has travelled. Shri Shah said that the initial 3 years will go towards
the expansion of Bharat Taxi, and after that, whatever profit is generated, 20 percent of it will remain with
Bharat Taxi, and 80 percent will be returned to the Sarathi brothers.Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the launch of Bharat Taxi is a major
cooperative movement. He said that under this, Bharat Taxi will mortgage the Sarathis' taxis and will
provide them loans through cooperative banks.
Shri Amit Shah said that there will be nothing hidden in Bharat Taxi. He said that by providing every piece
of information to the Sarathis through notifications, ‘Bharat Taxi’ will become the world’s most
transparent cab service. He mentioned that Bharat Taxi will operate by establishing a baseline kilometre
rate based on the Sarathis’ minimum viability. Shri Shah explained that in Bharat Taxi, a base rate will be
created by combining the cost of the auto, petrol consumption, and minimum profit, and the service will
not operate below this rate. Shri Shah said that the objective of Bharat Taxi is not to earn profit because
the Sarathis themselves are the owners of this cooperative.
Union Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that the concept of 'Sarathi Didi' (lady driver) has
been envisioned in Bharat Taxi. The 'Sarathi Didi' facility of Bharat Taxi will make women Sarathis self-
reliant and will ensure the safety of women passengers and Sarathis. He said that in the coming days, a
provision will be made in the Bharat Taxi app under the name ' Sarathi Didi' so that whenever there is a
solo female passenger, she will naturally be given priority to a ‘Sarathi Didi’.
Shri Amit Shah said that a window will be opened on the Bharat Taxi website for the grievances of the
Sarathis, where they can log in using their mobile number and submit all their problems. Based on these,
we will be able to revise the policies accordingly. Just as Bharat Taxi will resolve the problems of the
Sarathis, other taxi companies will also have to do the same. Shri Shah said that the objective of Bharat
Taxi should be to keep the customer happy while also ensuring the welfare of the Sarathi.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Sarathis should never refer to themselves as
drivers; instead, they should proudly call themselves Sarathis. He said that it is the responsibility of Bharat
Taxi to instill this sense of dignity and pride in the minds of the Sarathis. Bharat Taxi will explore all
possibilities for reform, and as it moves forward, solutions to every problem will also emerge. Shri Shah
further said that changing society's perspective towards viewing a Sarathi is also the responsibility of the
Sarathis themselves.
Shri Amit Shah said that the problems in the taxi sector can only be resolved by developing a proper
system. He said that the companies currently in existence do not have the welfare of the Sarathis as their
objective. Shri Shah said that the objective of Bharat Taxi is both the welfare of the Sarathis and treatingthe customer well. He added that Bharat Taxi's program of continuous dialogue with the Sarathis and
listening to their difficulties will keep running, and communication with the Sarathis will continue through
online means, physical meetings, and call centres.
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