They are not politicians but are seen posing with politicians. They are not trained eloquent speakers but are seen addressing press conferences. They usually stay behind the car wheel but are forced on the road on foot. These days interestingly this is the reality in Goa.
Citizens connected with transport business in the form of taxi cars are all out hammer and tong going after creature who has no birth in biology but in law: aggregator.
A week back on 20th May 2025 Goa government published gazette notification notifying "guidelines" for taxi cars on introducing cab aggregators supreceeding earlier notification of 06 March 2019. Gazette notification is issued by an IAS officer P. Pravimal Abhishek in his capacity as the Director of Transport, Government of Goa. Guidelines are notified for the information of those who are likely to be affected and are given 30 days to file objection. The exact last day to file objections is Goa Revolution Day 18 June 2025, the day known for defiance of people in Goa against Portuguese rule in 1946 under leadership of friend of Juliao Menezes namely Ram Manohar Lohia.
Central Government through Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had notified "motor vehicle aggregator guidelines- 2020" which is now being imposed in Goa in its 64 year after being "annexed through conquest" (as Supreme Court of India puts it in Shantilal Gosalia case) on 19 December 1961. Conqueror have an advantage to formulate laws and impose them upon the conquered to intensify the subjugation process. And imposition of aggregator is one such glaring example to this effect.
Guidelines interestingly also heralds triumph of technology with consequential impact of increasing sense of economic insecurity of Goa citizenry. In the new bold proposed set power is destined to be concentrated with aggregators, creatures of the twenty-first century, of technology. The concentration of power is essentially over data that will be electronically collected through apps and humans would be pushed to an era of apes, perhaps. The power of aggregator over data is also power over transport economy specially touristic state of Goa. Tourist taxi business is set for dramatic overhaul if guidelines comes in into force in June 2025. Business will witness shift of control over tourism cab transport sector in the clutches of aggregators and will be remotely controlled.
Taxi owners have opposed this proposed system that will come in force the moment aggregator pays rupees five lakh fees to Goa Government.
Few years ago Motor Vehicle Act 1988 was amended and new section was created to define "aggregator" as section 2(1A).
It reads: "aggregator" means a digital intermediary or market place for a passenger to connect with a driver for the purpose of transportation.
Role of intermediary in tourists taxi operations are strongly opposes and resisted for their infinite ability to accumulate capital through commision per transaction.
There are already few apps based transport cars operating in Goa. One is named after Goa and other after Taj as far as I know. I had the opportunity to get one such car after I got off at Mopa Airport and had to be dropped off at Nauxim village. During my journey I got chance of speaking to the driver. He was from Uttar Pradesh. He did not own the car. He was paid salary of Rs.15,000/- per month. He is supposed to use only CNG fuel to the car cost of which is refunded by the app company. If petrol is filled up in car at the fueling station then that money is not refunded by company He looses money. He went on in search of CNG at mid-night near Mopa but couldn't find. He dropped me to Odxel. I inquired as to where he will go after dropping me off. He replied that he will park the car nearby to Odxel till he gets notification for next passenger from the app. He has no family to go and rest at night. His app based taxi has taken his life hostage, a new level of exploitation. And one more important fact: I was charged just Rs.700/- as journey cost. As a consumer it's bonanza for my pocket! I have every reason to celebrate to get access to a cab at command of app residing in my cell phone.
One needs sense of bit deeper empathy and understanding to know why Goa's cabs charge double the amount for the same distance. It's economics is simple Goan taxis live a dignified life without exploitation and with sufficient family commitments. The cost from Odxel to Mopa will include also cost of return journey of driver back to his home in Odxel from Mopa. So when when I took local non-app cab from Odxel to Mopa Airport I paid Rs.1,400/- for the same distance. Paying of this cost ensures lifestyle of work without exploitation.
Cab Aggregator and it's introduction in Goa will smash mass of Goa's population who lives in economic prosperity in Middle class decent lifestyle into impoverish situation with enormous blow to family life.
We must note that Individual choice of taxi owning individuals is critical at this juncture; and we must ensure that control of information rests with citizens, not with data aggregators or data users such as any apps. How various taxi operating Associations in North and South of Goa conduct themselves will have long term bearing on the Goan society as the struggle is essentially against taking over of tourism taxi economy away from the control of people of Goa through legal sanction and government support.
It is not a difficult guess as to why State transport department is determined to push down this decision despite resistance from the mass of Taxi operators. Taxi owners are resisting State policies for over one decade and the they have come a long way from Speed governors, taxi meters, tracking devices to cab aggregators. Currently government functioning is through policy of reward and punishment. Those who consistently contribute to the ruling Party funds gets rewarded with contracts and projects irrespective of what the merits or de-merit for public is. All that matters is contributions to party funds. Those officials who contribute to Party funds are rewarded with plump postings even if the officer doesn't have required qualification and merit. This is the reason governance in Goa has turned into commerce. Public interest has taken back seat and vested interests rule the State.
Vested interests who are enemies of people of Goa has taken control of governance in Goa and gazette notifications are issued to subtly promote skewed exploitation in clever camouflaged manner.
Currently rebellion of Goan taxi owners must be viewed with much more holistic approach rather than usual prejudiced tags of Mafia and Looters. It is their way of self-assertion for they too believe that Goa is a place that is worth fighting for. In this case employment and livelihood with dignity.
Ruling party most likely has already sold them off to usher in corporatization of taxi business in Goa via hefty contributions to Party funds. And there is no way to know exact amount as financial contributions to political parties is deliberately kept out of scope of Right to Information Act by all National Political Parties so far. This is one of the roots of corruption through which vested interests has taken control over governance.
Taxi rebellion in Goa is a genuine rebelling of middle class in Goa with their own leadership and only those with empathic sense will be able to reach out to them and support.
I am gonna stay with candle in my hands amidst darkness all around eminating light bright even though it's not a sunshine, yet.
Struggle continues. Your option and decision today matters for how we shape Goa tomorrow.
I have made my options clear.
Dr. S. A. Rodrigues
