By Deepak Singh

Shillong, June 24: An ‘on demand’ taxi service by the name of Covid Transport Service (CTS) is currently catering to the needs of hundreds on a daily basis in Shillong city and has become very popular within a month of its launch. The service comes at a time when everyone was despairing on ways to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and many sitting out of work worried about managing the next meal on the table. Life was more difficult for those suffering from Covid symptoms requiring medical attention and those suffering from other chronic ailments. Amidst all this, it was this one idea which once again brought hope, encouragement and motivation to people.

That one idea was ‘on demand’ taxi service, christened as Covid Transport Service, came from Naba Bhattacharjee, a Shillong based environmentalist and social worker. He was extremely upset with the rising cases of hospitalization and deaths in the first week of May, when the cases detected daily were around the thousand mark. He observed that people were unable to reach hospitals due acute shortage of ambulances and non-availability of taxis due to lockdown. Many patients that were under home quarantine and isolation were left on their own and several lost the battle to the novel corona virus, who otherwise could have been saved if they had access to a medicare services on time.

He realised that waiting for help from government was a waste of precious time as the government machineries were fully utilised with taking care of current cases and getting ambulances, including 108, was a challenge since they were pressed into service overtime for ferrying huge number of patients across the city and from nearby villages.

“So, I thought that we cannot just sit this and the government also was not in a position, because government overnight cannot produce ambulances. So that was the time the idea hit upon me was that lot of taxis and commercial vehicles were ideal due to the lockdown. So, if we could motivate them, they could also earn something and it also brings relief to patients affected by Covid, especially those recuperating at home and without vehicles,” Bhattacharjee told Hub news.

He prepared a draft on the way some volunteer taxis could be pressed into service for ferrying the Covid-19 patients and presented it to the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills. The idea was immediately given the green signal, as it promised to bring a lot of relief to the medical and district administration, who had been trying to find a solution to meet the daily demand for ambulances.

Operationalization of the taxi service

Being a member of the State level consultation committee for Covid helped Bhattacharjee get access to the Deputy Commissioner and explain his concept in detail. It also helped him mobilize the taxi service with the help of taxi association and the district administration, and ensure the drivers’ safety as well.

Although the idea was mooted in mid-May, the service for Shillong city was launched on June 03, 2021 with a fleet of 10 taxis who had volunteered for the service. With the help of the district administration, the drivers of the taxis were vaccinated with the first dose of vaccine, trained on COVID appropriate behaviour, and dos and don’ts on ferrying covid patients before they could be pressed in service.

The challenge was to get the taxis drivers to come forward as most were apprehensive due to the spike in cases and total lockdown. Bhattacharjee got in touch with the secretary of Shillong Taxi Association and the latter arranged 10 taxis for the service.

In the meantime, dedicated phone numbers and a roster for the taxis was setup with the help of volunteers, who would be the first line of respondent to any call and they would fix the charges and depute the taxis round the clock.

The taxi drivers are provided with PPE kits, sanitizers, water, tea and lunch. All the 10 taxis are stationed at a parking spot from 7 AM to 7 PM. For the night service, the taxis are put on a rotation, managed by the volunteers.

They are also tested for Covid every 3-4 day.

“While the cost for the taxi has to be borne by the patients, if the patients are from BPL, we try to get the cost subsidized” added Bhattacharjee.

One can get the service the taxis by calling at: 9874404195, 9863037783, 8794793011, 8618674013. Of these numbers, 8618674013 is available 24×7.

Day to day management of the service has been entrusted to an NGO – Make Someone Smile (MSS).

Taxis for non-covid patients

The idea for starting the taxi service for non-covid patients came after the service was launched and received good response.

“We realised that it is not only the Covid patients, even the non-covid patients are many but this has gone to the background. You will be surprised to know that 40 per cent of our cases are daily dialysis cases, which people were keeping pending because of the lack of vehicles,” Bhattacharjee informed.

There are many ailments other than Covid such as need to take dialysis every alternate day, cardio patients, and other chronic issues. To help these patients, 3-4 vehicles of the 10 vehicles in services are always kept apart depending on the demand.

Looking at the success, more drivers have come forward to offer their services but Bhattacharjee said they are being observed before they can be put into service

Branching out to Nongpoh

With the success of the ‘on demand’ taxis service in Shillong, the Nongpoh Town Committee (NTC) also wanted to launch a similar service.

So, on June 8, 2021, the ‘on demand’ taxis service was launched in Nongpoh. But at Nongpoh, instead of small taxis, they are using 5 sumos because sumos are more wider used and available in the district.

The service is also planned for Jowai due to the rising cases there. After which there are plans to launch the service in Garo Hills.