In a significant development for India’s cooperative movement in the mobility sector, Bharat Taxi (Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited), the country’s first cooperative-driven national ride-hailing initiative, held its inaugural Board of Directors meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.
In this milestone meeting, Jayen Mehta, Managing Director of AMUL (GCMMF), was unanimously elected as the Chairman, while Rohit Gupta, Deputy Managing Director of NCDC, was chosen as the Vice Chairman of Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited.
Both leaders bring vast experience in cooperative management and innovation, setting a strong foundation for Bharat Taxi’s mission to build a technology-driven, inclusive, and self-reliant transport ecosystem.
The newly constituted Board also includes eminent cooperative leaders such as Prahlad Singh (IFFCO), Dr. Meeneshkumar Champaklal Shah (NDDB), Unupom Kaushik (NCEL), Smt. Archana Singh (NABARD), and Smt. Anupama Singh (Kashi Srijan Bahuudeshiya Sahakari Samiti).
A unique highlight of this initiative is the representation of drivers as co-owners, Dhara Vallabh and Kishan Bhai G. Patani were democratically elected to the Board earlier this month, marking a first in India’s mobility sector.
The meeting focused on strategic priorities including digital innovation, sustainability, and the empowerment of driver-members. Bharat Taxi envisions transforming the taxi industry through cooperative values and cutting-edge technology, ensuring affordability for passengers, dignity for drivers, and efficiency in operations.
With a vision aligned to the national mission of ‘Sahakar se Samriddhi’, Bharat Taxi represents a transformative step toward a cooperative-led, people-centric, and technology-enabled mobility revolution in India.
The initiative is supported by eight major cooperatives, including the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO), and Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). These organizations bring decades of experience in cooperative management and are committed to fostering a sustainable and inclusive mobility ecosystem.
Bharat Taxi’s technological infrastructure is being developed in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The cooperative model of Bharat Taxi not only challenges the dominance of corporate ride-hailing giants like Ola and Uber but also promotes a more equitable distribution of earnings within the mobility sector. By involving drivers as stakeholders, the platform fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility, ensuring that both drivers and passengers benefit from a transparent and fair system.
The cooperative mobility model is gaining momentum across India, with several state governments launching initiatives aimed at empowering drivers and providing affordable transportation options for commuters. In Delhi, the state government is set to introduce the capital’s first cooperative cab service, designed to offer drivers a more equitable alternative to existing corporate ride-hailing platforms.