Union Home Minister Amit Shah Highlights ‘Sarathi’ Vision Under Bharat Taxi’s Cooperative Model

Amit Shah, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, highlighted the true spirit of cooperative development, stating that giving workers a share in profits is the real essence of cooperation, as he spoke about the vision behind Bharat Taxi and its “Sarathi” model.

He emphasized that Bharat Taxi is not merely a taxi service but a transformative initiative aimed at making drivers partners in profit and decision-making. Under this model, drivers will be given the respectful identity of “Sarathi,” a term envisioned as a symbol of dignity and self-respect.

The initiative proposes that Sarathis will hold ownership stakes in the company, with their representatives included on the Board of Directors to ensure participatory governance. In addition to shareholding opportunities, the platform aims to provide insurance coverage and easy loan facilities, strengthening the economic security of drivers.

Bharat Taxi also seeks to establish a transparent system by providing all necessary information to Sarathis through notifications. A dedicated grievance redressal mechanism will address their concerns, while the “Sarathi Didi” feature is designed to promote women’s participation and enhance safety for women drivers and passengers.

The Union Home Minister noted that recent commission reductions and passenger discounts by other taxi companies reflect competitive pressure in the market. However, he underlined that the cooperative model of Bharat Taxi is focused on long-term welfare of drivers rather than short-term market positioning.

With plans to expand to every municipal corporation in the country within the next three years, Bharat Taxi aims to position the Sarathi model as a nationwide example of cooperative empowerment in the mobility sector.