Bike taxi drivers allege harassment by auto unions over plan to protest ban; demand legal framework
After the
bike taxi ban
came into effect on June 16, over 100 drivers from aggregator platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido in Karnataka alleged harassment by auto unions and said they were denied permission to protest at Freedom Park due to pressure from such groups.
The drivers, part of the
Namma Bike Taxi Association
, submitted a petition on Thursday, demanding legal recognition of bike taxis and a clear policy framework to end harassment and regulatory confusion. 'Last year, Karnataka saw over eight crore bike taxi rides. We're not asking for favours, we're asking for the right to work legally and safely,' said Mohammed Salim, president of the association.
Representatives of the bike taxi drivers also met Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dasarahalli MLA S Muniraju on Thursday, seeking urgent intervention to reverse the ongoing crackdown on bike taxi services in the state.
The meeting follows a series of open letters addressed to chief minister Siddaramaiah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Rahul Gandhi, none of which have elicited a response. The association said it's ironic on the government's part, as they were the ones to pass a Gig Worker Welfare Bill just last month, while banning a sector that offers flexible income to thousands.
Salim said over 300 drivers are calling him daily, seeking help. 'And I don't know what to tell them. Should we lose our livelihoods because the government has no policy for bike taxis? We don't want chaos. We need regulation, not a ban,' he said.
Commuters face the brunt
Discover the stories of your interest
Blockchain
5 Stories
Cyber-safety
7 Stories
Fintech
9 Stories
E-comm
9 Stories
ML
8 Stories
Edtech
6 Stories
Daily commuters said they have been feeling the pinch since the ban, with auto fares rising sharply. Many also complained of frequent booking cancellations unless they added high tips. Several commuters have called for a public consultation on the issue and urged the government to withdraw the ban.
'Auto fares are going through the roof. I used to pay Rs 50 on a bike taxi, now autos charge Rs 100 to Rs 150 for the same distance,' said a college student in the city.
The union pointed out that despite the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020 from the Centre recognising bike taxis, Karnataka is yet to formulate corresponding rules. 'The state's 2021 Electric Bike Taxi Policy was also quietly withdrawn in 2024, leaving thousands of drivers without regulatory protection,' it said in a statement.
With the ban in full effect, bike taxi drivers are facing a tough time earning a living. Imran M, a father of two who uses the aggregator apps, said, 'I've borrowed twice already this month. My daughter's school is asking for fees, and I have nothing left.'
Similarly, Sathish, a 26-year-old driver who treated ferrying passengers as his regular job, said, 'Delivery partners can use the same bike to deliver food, but I get fined for giving someone a ride. Where's the logic in that?'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Can new collar gig jobs be a game-changer for fresh graduates
Gig means 'informal'. Gig workers are typically freelancers or independent contractors hired for specific tasks or projects, rather than as full time employees. Whenever we hear the word 'Gig Jobs ', what readily come to our minds are the temporary blue collar workers using platforms like Uber, Ola, Urban, Flipkart etc. But in reality, the scope of gig work is far wider, ranging from platform-driven blue collar jobs, white collar knowledge workers, and going up to 'skills-only' new age jobs that are called 'New Collar Jobs'. Developed countries like the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia have integrated gig work more deeply into their economies. According to Upwork's Freelance Forward report (2024), 38% of the U.S. workforce is freelancers, with 79% of them holding minimum Bachelors degree and 47% of them providing knowledge services in sectors like IT, consulting and marketing. An unprecedented digital transformation of the job market fueled by AI coupled with continuation of remote working in the IT sector has produced a number of new-age jobs requiring cutting-edge skills. Just-in-time availability and substantial cost advantage are compelling companies to recruit such freelancers. As per a recent report by TeamLease, only 10% of about 1.5 million engineering students that graduate in 2025 are expected to secure full time jobs in corporates during the year, due to automation of entry level jobs, slowdown of economy and skill-related factors. The situation is not likely to change for the better in the near future. In this environment, the emerging job market for gig sector white collar and new collar jobs presents an alternative career path . In the prevailing context, this article examines the attractiveness of the sector for fresh engineering graduates and career pathways that can be planned in short term as well as long term, challenges faced in this process and how they can be addressed by the stakeholders. White collar gigs As per FlexingIt's report on Changing Global Workforce Models, despite global uncertainty and a sluggish job market, demand for independent professionals rose 38% in 2024-25 driven by the need for specialist skills, quicker turnaround and flexibility in deployment. Demand for freelancers cuts across business functions and sectors with technology services leading at 25% (AI related projects contributing about 10%), followed by strategy (15%) and finance (11%). Besides this, 25% of freelance projects are independent of location and can be outsourced. A generational shift is underway as a number of millennials and Gen Z are preferring organisations and jobs that offer autonomy, flexibility and work-life balance from the outset. No wonder, 38% of the white collar gig workers worldwide are women. The Indian market As traditional job markets get reshaped due to automation and become increasingly competitive, many fresh graduates are turning to gig jobs, as a viable entry point into the workforce. India currently has over 10 million gig workers in sectors such as software, professional services, digital marketing, healthcare, and media. This workforce is expected to grow to 23.5 million by 2030, as per a NITI Aayog report. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a major driver of new job creation and transformation. India's AI job market is expected to grow by 20% in 2025 and the integration of AI into the gig economy is creating new opportunities for engineering graduates, particularly in data science, machine learning, and automation. As per a NASSCOM report, by 2027, 40% of IT work in India could be gig-based and 25% of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) will recruit gig workers. New collar jobs are not limited to IT, as other sectors like banking, insurance, healthcare, and even traditional industries such as oil and gas are increasingly seeking tech-savvy engineers for digital transformation roles. As per Foundit Insights Tracker (April 2025), India's gig job market has been witnessing robust expansion, recording a 17% year-on-year growth in 2024-25. Most of the gig professionals are placed through company-led models across Indian corporates like TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech, Fractal and Wipro (28% share), MNCs like IBM,JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Google, Microsoft and Meta (12%), startups (8%), and others (18%). Balance 34% are placed through consultants including staffing firms and freelance platforms. The demand for gig workers is particularly strong in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related roles, which make up 68% of total gig opportunities, underscoring the increasing reliance on skilled professionals in technology, management, and data science-driven sectors. Moreover, freshers with specialised technical expertise are in high demand, with gig-based hiring in fields like AI, data science, and cloud computing, which grew by 32% over the previous year. The steep growth in GCCs has been witnessing increased reliance on gig professionals, as a key part of their hiring strategy. As per a recent LinkedIn survey, 85% of the GCCs are focused on a skills-first approach for recruitment. Outsourcing opportunities Due to cost-effectiveness and a large English-speaking workforce, Indian gig workers are in demand for firms in the U.S. and Europe for outsourcing jobs like AI/ML data annotation, AI ethics, prompt engineering, data analytics, application prototyping and digital marketing campaign management. The National Capital Region (NCR) with a 26% share and Mumbai ( 18%) are the major gig hubs, followed by Bengaluru (12%), Hyderabad (11%) and Chennai (8%). Income trends and platforms The gig economy in India offers a diverse range of earning opportunities, with the largest share of 40% of jobs in the income range of ₹3-6 lakh per annum (LKA) followed by 36% in less-than-₹ 3 lakh per annum, 16% in ₹6-10 lakh range and balance 8% in the over ₹10 LKA bracket, reflecting the dominance of entry-level and mid-skilled roles. There has been a significant growth in skilled gig professionals, particularly in IT consulting, data analytics, and project management, commanding ₹6-10 LPA salaries, highlighting the demand for advanced technical and strategic skills. As businesses continue to integrate gig talent into their regular workforce strategies, the scope for premium skill sets and specialised expertise is expected to grow, driving greater earning potential in the future. As the gig economy continues to grow, businesses will increasingly rely on specialized online platforms that cater to specific industries, such as healthcare, design, technology, and marketing. These AI-driven platforms match workers with highly tailored skills to project-based opportunities, enhancing the quality of work, while streamlining the hiring process. An estimated 200 million women in India are estimated to be unemployed or under-employed due to rigid work formats and personal commitments. In order to address this gap, Swati Nelabhatula, a techie turned entrepreneur recently created a platform, SITHA, for women gig workers. Career growth for gig professionals While the gig sector could be an entry level career opportunity, gig professionals, over a period of time, can look forward to multiple career growth choices, depending on their interests and career aspirations. Many successful startups are founded by professionals, who started as freelancers , leveraging their experience and networking with the client base. Work experience thus gained also enables the graduates to build a strong skill base, making them attractive to corporate recruiters. Some gig professionals pursue higher studies, while working. Irrespective of the career option selected, it can be a rewarding career journey of earn-while-you-learn. Gig jobs offer flexibility in terms of the projects, clients, skills, and working hours and can also suit those pursuing further studies or career exploration. They also provide exposure to international clients in diverse industries, without the need for relocation. For those with 'Portfolio Career Mindset', they offer the choice of multiple income generating roles, simultaneously, depending on interest, skills and convenience. Top freelancers with the right skills can earn more than salaried peers. Challenges The biggest challenge in gig jobs is lack of assured income and job security, as they are temporary, project-based work, without social security benefits like PF, ESI, or health insurance. There is also the risk of credibility of the clients and possibility of delayed payments on platforms. Income growth depends on self upskilling, in alignment with the skills in demand. It depends entirely on the gig professional to manage his or her career growth. Need to ensure sustainability of gig economy In view of the excellent opportunity the gig sector presents in upskilling the youth to make them employable and contribute to the economic growth, all the concerned stakeholders - Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), industry and government- need to play an active role to address the challenges and make it sustainable, scalable as well as viable. HEIs need to prepare students for gig roles by including modules on freelancing, digital marketing and financial literacy, besides imparting contemporary skills as a part of the curriculum, and conduct credit-based evaluation of the gig projects. They should collaborate with the industry to provide gig platforms and startups for short live project opportunities. Students should be encouraged to use platforms like GitHub, Dribbble and Kaggle to showcase their skills through live projects. They should set up mentoring and counseling support and also recognize top-performers. BITS, Pilani has introduced a module on Freelancing, whereas IIT Madras has tied up with Zoho for gig internships A number of companies, both Indian IT firms and MNCs, have already created dedicated gig platforms for engineers and have been offering micro-internships and gig projects to the students. They maintain pools of vetted freelancers for just-in-time hiring and created talent pipelines, offering regular employment to the well performing gig professionals. They also provide upskilling opportunities for the enrolled gig workers. TCS curated the Ion Digital Marketplace as the gig platform for cloud & AI freelancers wherein over 15,000 gig workers have been onboarded so far and about 40% of the top performers were absorbed into their projects. Wells Fargo, the U.S. banking MNC set up 'Gig Talent Pool' to hire Indian freelancers for fraud analytics and AI jobs. Government policies Recognising that the gig workforce is a vital pillar of India's new-age economy, driving innovation and efficiency across digital platforms, the Government of India announced during the 2025-26 budget that it has decided to provide them with identity cards, e-Shram registration, and healthcare security under PM Jan Arogya Yojana, as a transformative step towards their social security and well-being. This initiative is expected to empower nearly 10 million gig workers. A pilot initiative has already been undertaken by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to register platform workers and aggregators on the e-Shram portal. The Karnataka government has established a Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Board to provide social security and welfare benefits to gig workers in the state. More States are expected to follow suite in due course. India, with its large education and skilling ecosystem, has the potential to emerge as a Global Gig Hub for new-collar skills, which will power the future global economy. In order to realise it, the Government of India may consider setting up a Gig India Mission and formulate strategies and action plans and implement the same in a mission mode. Conclusion The New Collar gig economy presents not merely an attractive alternative but also a complementary pathway for the engineering graduates to acquire and harness the new-age skills. With the right policy interventions, academic reforms, and industry collaboration, gig careers can evolve from short-term sustenance models to long-term rewarding professional careers, offering opportunities for higher income, growth, and innovation to India's young talent. It is a golden opportunity for India to leverage the demographic dividend for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 by way of right skilling the youth. (Prof (Dr) O R S Rao is the Chancellor of the ICFAI University, Sikkim. Views are personal )
Mint
7 hours ago
- Mint
Mint Primer: People love them but do bike taxis have a future?
Karnataka's ban on bike taxis has revived the debate on their legality and safety. With Indian states taking varied stances, more bans could upend low-cost urban mobility and disrupt gig economy jobs, raising fresh questions about the industry's future. Mint explains: 1. What's behind the ban by Karnataka? Karnataka's decision stems from legal and regulatory concerns around the use of white-board (privately registered) two-wheelers for commercial purposes, which the state sees as a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act. Officials cite safety risks, lack of commercial insurance, and mounting pressure from auto and cab unions as key factors. A High Court ruling had earlier deemed unlicensed bike taxi operations illegal, further strengthening the state's stance. Facing political pressure and regulatory ambiguity, the government opted for a blanket ban rather than gradual regulation, effectively outlawing bike taxi services across the state from 16 June. Also read: Swedish tourist claims Uber driver left him midway in Delhi's 45°C heat, demanded ₹5,000 extra; company reacts 2. Could other states do the same? Some might. Maharashtra hasn't banned bike taxis but allows only electric ones—raising entry barriers, a move Delhi has also adopted. Telangana does not permit bike taxis, while West Bengal remains permissive. With the Centre silent, states interpret laws individually. If ambiguity continues, more states may lean toward bans or restrictive policies to preempt political or legal backlash. Also read: Ola rolls out no-commission model for cabs to weather intensifying competition 3. What does this mean for gig workers and startups? The impact is immediate and destabilizing. Gig workers relying on bike taxi income now face job losses or costly EV transitions. Startups like Rapido, which derive up to 50% of their revenue from bike taxis, risk losing key markets or being pushed toward expensive compliance. Investor sentiment may sour unless states provide policy clarity and a stable regulatory environment emerges. Also read: Mumbai police shut down 'locker service' of auto driver who went viral for earning ' ₹5–8 lakh': 'Licence only to...' 4. How are everyday commuters affected? For urban commuters, especially students, working women, and lower-income workers, bike taxis offer a cheap, fast alternative to cabs and autos. Sudden bans or EV mandates limit transport choices, raise prices and extend commute times—especially in last-mile areas underserved by traditional public transport. Meanwhile, platforms redirecting riders to autos or cabs may not solve the affordability gap. App-based platforms face user churn or lower engagement in banned zones. EV-only models, while cleaner, may not scale fast enough to fully replace conventional bikes. 5. Is this the end of the road for bike taxis? Not quite—but the road is narrowing. A nationwide policy could still bring clarity, with formal licensing, insurance, and safety norms. Maharashtra's and Delhi's EV-only path may become a blueprint, though affordability and charging infrastructure remain hurdles. Startups are exploring other pivots, but survival depends on regulatory clarity and scalable compliance models. Without these, the bike taxi model may shrink or shift towards other services, stalling growth in shared mobility.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Business Standard
Cooperative taxi platform aims to offer fair pricing and social security
India' s first app based taxi service under the cooperative model, aimed at taking on Uber and Ola, called the Sahakar Taxi Cooperative, has been registered under the Multi-State Co-Operative Societies Act with an authorised share capital of ₹300 crore, senior officials said. The taxi service, which is initially expected to start operations in Delhi, Gujarat, and Maharashtra around December, will gradually expand its footprint across the country. A few months ago, Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah announced the intention to launch a taxi ride-hailing service in the cooperative sector called Sahakar Taxi. The platform would also allow registration of two-wheelers, rickshaws, taxis, and four-wheelers. The Sahakar Taxi Cooperative has been promoted by eight major cooperatives: the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Anand Milk Union, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and National Co-operative Exports. Each promoter has already committed ₹10 crore, amounting to around ₹80 crore in initial capital for the taxi cooperative. Around 400 drivers are expected to be onboarded initially. Each will be allowed to purchase five shares of ₹100 each to become members of the cooperative six months after joining. 'Unlike Uber and Ola, this taxi service will operate on three major principles: first, ensuring fair pricing for both drivers and passengers (concepts like surge pricing will not be permitted); second, redistribution of profits to drivers; and third, provision of social security for drivers,' a senior official directly involved in the project said. He added that the cooperative taxi service will not operate for profit, and all earnings will be redistributed among the drivers, with a portion allocated for their social security benefits. 'We have already initiated discussions with technology partners to develop a ride-sharing application for the service,' the official explained. An interim board has been formed to oversee initial operations. Rohit Gupta, deputy managing director of NCDC, is serving as chairman of the board. Other key members include V Sridhar (NDDB), Tarun Handa (Nafed), Naveen Kumar (Nabard), Santosh Shukla (IFFCO), and L P Godwin (KRIBHCO), among others. The Sahakar Taxi Cooperative is also working to collaborate with leading educational institutions, such as the International Institute of Information Technology, Bengaluru, for technological development, operational systems, and digital integration to match industry standards. To generate employment opportunities in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, the Sahakar Taxi Cooperative plans to set up call centres in smaller towns and cities — unlike major ride-hailing apps, which typically have back offices in metro areas, the official said.
