Namma Yatri has patched up with Bengaluru’s autorickshaw drivers by onboarding them as "community enablers", thus adopting a people-first approach to driver empowerment and welfare.
“This initiative strengthens ties with driver communities and unions, paving the way for service expansion beyond metros and tier-1 cities, promoting inclusive growth in India's mobility landscape,” a Namma Yatri spokesperson told Moneycontrol.
The ride-hailing company, which competes with Uber and Ola, started the programme to revive its relationship with the auto drivers. Fissures with the Bengaluru’s Autorickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU) led to a breakup last year.
The peace agreement will likely help the company's expansion into other cities and the launch of cab services in Bengaluru, according to people aware of the developments.
Moneycontrol first reported on December 11 that Namma Yatri had parted ways with the union.
“For the past three years, Namma Yatri has been deeply committed to participatory development, collaborating with a diverse group of drivers whose insights have refined services and spurred growth. This collaboration has led to innovative technology and customer-centric products, enabling drivers to provide good service. In light of clarifying its stance on unions, Namma Yatri reaffirms its dedication to the entire driver community's welfare and continues to build positive relationships with all unions that share its vision," a Namma Yatri spokesperson said in response to queries.
What led to the breakup
Namma Yatri, backed by JusPay, parted ways with the auto drivers' union following differences over aspects such as pricing and promotions, people familiar with the matter said.
Also Read: Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union in Bengaluru breaks up with Namma Yatri
One of the differences arose when the union wanted to launch a flat Rs 40 fare for a 2-km distance between metro stations and residences/offices, a request that Namma Yatri rejected.
After reconciliation
According to the Namma Yatri team, Rudramurthy and Pattabhiraman from the union played an important role in launching Namma Yatri in Bengaluru. They, along with Naveen Kumar, who represents auto drivers in Tumkuru, and Nagalakshmi, who leads the Mahila Shakthi e-Auto Driving Programme, are the first community enablers.
“Namma Yatri is committed to collaborate with all driver unions and associations that share its vision of uplifting drivers. There have been misunderstandings regarding Namma Yatri's stance towards unions in the past, but the company likes to clarify and reaffirm that it continues to work with all unions, including ARDU,” the spokesperson added.
According to the company, the community enablers will work with Namma Yatri employees on product feedback, driver welfare, and engagement initiatives.
Also Read: Ola, Uber challenger Namma Yatri crosses 5 mn users, $50 mn in driver earnings
“Namma Yatri also conducts weekly meetings with top-performing drivers to gather their inputs and feedback, which are essential for designing features and improving the app's functionality. This ensures that the app meets the needs of drivers and helps them provide superior customer service,” the spokesperson said.
Rudramurthy, who earlier expressed concerns over pricing, said they have sorted out the issues.
"Being part of Namma Yatri is a rewarding experience. It's gratifying to see our efforts making a real difference in drivers' lives and the communities we serve," said Rudramurthy.
The company is in the process of onboarding community enablers across other cities including Hyderabad, Chennai, and New Delhi.
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