Change is a Process. Not an Event.
A political group acting as a self appointed crusader for black and yellow taxi drivers, and claiming to represent their interests called for a strike today in Mumbai to ask for a complete ban on transportation aggregator services such as Uber.
The vocabulary of their dissent consists of violence, vandalism and intimidation. Even as they continue to take the law into their hands, wilfully crippling millions of Mumbai’s residents, the entire Uber Mumbai team remains fully committed to ensuring you have a safe, reliable ride.
Their characterisation of the aggregator industry as a threat to the driver community could not be further from the reality. Hundreds of former taxi and auto drivers have taken advantage of our technology platform through unprecedented access to affordable financing programs (buying cars for as little as Rs. 25,000 downpayment), gaining access to better livelihoods and entrepreneurial opportunities.
For citizens in the city, services such as Uber have brought unprecedented access to reliable and safe transportation, eliminating the need to deal with haggling, refusals and lack of accountability.
For an industry that is barely 5 years old, there is understandably no sector specific regulations applicable. The Central government has shown great leadership in finalizing guidelines for aggregators that are expected to be issued to the states soon. Several states, including Maharashtra have expressed their intent to adopt your Ministry’s guidelines when they are published.
It is important to acknowledge that change is a process and not an event; and technological innovation will almost always precede regulatory frameworks. During this period of thought evolution, these political groups are taking advantage of the uncertainty to hold commuters, drivers and even kaali peeli drivers (who do not support this agitation) to ransom by wanton acts of violence and intimidation.
As citizens of a city that celebrates the value of opportunity, we should condemn this unlawful means of expression. Uber is offering our full cooperation to the government and we are committed to implementing a regulatory framework that not only protects rider safety and security but also recognises new technology and paves way for innovation to transform urban mobility.
You can help by making your voice heard. Reach out to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra:
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