By Nayak Paudel
Kathmandu, Feb. 27: It has been two years since Gunjan has been working full time in the ride-sharing sector. With a normal motorcycle, Gunjan’s earning has helped him earn his livelihood like thousands of riders associated with ride-sharing companies like Tootle and Pathao.
A driving license, a renewed bluebook and a motorcycle followed by training from the respective ride-sharing company allows an individual to be a rider and start earning.
“Over the time, the ride-sharing platform has allowed me to earn some money that is enough to support me and my wife. I didn’t have higher education but the ride-sharing sector provided an opportunity to earn in the country, or else I was planning to fly abroad,” said Gunjan, a 27-year-old.
According to the riders, the ride-sharing platform provides a way for earning and at the same time doesn’t force one to work in a fixed schedule. In other words, the riders feel free in this profession as they are not bound to work on a daily basis.
“I can start picking passengers when I am ready despite it’s day or night. If I need even a week leave, I don’t need to ask anyone. Above all, it helps to earn a handsome amount of money if we work properly every day,” said Prem Ale Magar, a Tootle rider.
As per Ale, he earns around Rs 2,000 a day if he works for about eight hours a day. Similarly, many riders have associated themselves with more than one ride-sharing company to find a new passenger at the earliest.
It was only due to the COVID-19 pandemic led lockdown which affected the ride-sharing sector as vehicle movement was restricted. Many individuals, whose source of income was based on the ride-sharing business, struggled during the pandemic. But as soon as the government uplifted the lockdown, it was a great relief for the riders.
“It was only during the lockdown that I had no source of income because vehicle movement was restricted. The government’s decision to end the lockdown was a relief and what’s more we riders followed health safety guidelines which allowed many like me to start earning again,” said Gunjan.
While many like Gunjan were awaiting the government to uplift the lockdown so they could resume ride-sharing, many joined after the lockdown for several reasons. Many even opted ride-sharing because they lost their earlier jobs due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Due to the pandemic, I lost my job because my company couldn’t pay me during the lockdown. Even when the lockdown has been lifted, the company is unable to earn enough due to lack of customers. With no choice left, I got associated with Pathao with the motorcycle I used to go to my office,” said Manish, a BHM graduate who worked for two years in a five-star-hotel in Kathmandu before the lockdown.
For past four months, Manish’s earning has been based on the ride-sharing platform. With the Valley’s population continuously demanding for an easy form of transportation, the ride-sharing companies have created one. However, the sector yet lacks proper regulation by the government.
As the ride-sharing platform is operating properly only in the Valley for now, the Bagmati Province has legalised the sector in its Transportation Act. As per the Sub-section (4) of Section 13 of Schedule 2 of the State’s Vehicle and Transport Management Act of Bagmati, two- and four-wheelers registered for private use can pick and drop individuals after completing the listed procedures.
While the law has legalised the platform, it still lacks a regulation barring the companies from being registered. With a regulation in implementation, the ride-sharing companies will be liable to bring blanket insurance and other facilities for the riders and passengers.
“The regulation has still not been fully ready. Once it is all set, we will begin the process at the earliest,” said Nabin Kumar Singh, spokesperson at Physical Infrastructure Development Ministry of Bagmati Province.
Singh also added that the ride-sharing companies would not be restricted from operation even when the regulation is not brought into implementation.
Senior officials of the ride-sharing companies like Tootle and Pathao, over several conversations with The Rising Nepal, have urged the government to bring a proper regulation soon because the number of ride-sharing companies is on the rise.