Captain’s rozgar plan: Uber, Ola ready to ride with govt

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government’s employment generation scheme seems set to enter the fast lane with two of India’s top cab aggregators, Uber and Ola, showing interest.

Both Uber and Ola, which offer app-based cab aggregation services in major cities, have submitted proposals to the directorate of employment generation and training under the ‘Apni Gaddi Apna Rozgar’ scheme of the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government.

The two companies presented their detailed proposals on Monday, the last day for submitting applications, for generating “entrepreneurship opportunities” for unemployed youth in the state. “Detailed proposals have been received from the two cab service providers. Both companies are operating in Mohali, Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar in a limited manner. There is scope to create employment opportunities,” said a senior government official.

The employment generation department had two weeks ago invited proposals from taxi service providers having an experience of at least three years and a fleet strength of 5,000 taxis as on March 31, 2017. The companies were asked to submit districtwise plans for the next five years along with potential for employment generation. The state cabinet, in its first meeting on March 18, had approved the job creation scheme to work out a system to provide one lakh taxis and other vehicles per annum to unemployed youth at subsidised rates.

“The state government would stand guarantee and no collateral would be required. They will be expected to repay the loan in five years.” It is willing to stand guarantee for an amount of up to ₹1,500 crore under the scheme.

The state has 3.18 lakh unemployed youth, including 98,809 females, as per information available with field offices. The scheme will cover persons of Punjab domicile in the age group of 18 to 45 years and having a valid driver licence. The cab aggregators run car and motorbike taxi services with three models where any person having a vehicle can operate with them, cars are leased for daily/weekly rental or vehicle financing is facilitated for persons who operate with them. “Income varies from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, depending on the model under which the vehicle is operated,” said the official.

TOP CAB AGGREGATORS SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR ‘APNI GADDI APNA ROZGAR’ SCHEME AIMED AT CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNEMPLOYED YOUTH