GTDC condemns CRT for misleading statements

The Women’s  Taxi Service  introduced  in Goa  since  October 2014 is an initiative   of the  Goa  Tourism Development  Corporation Limited (GTDC) and one of the  many new   tourism services  launched for  the  benefit of  visiting tourists,  especially  women from India and  abroad. Safety, security and  efficiency  is  the  mantra of  the  Women Taxi Service and  its  success  has  spread  across the globe by  word-of-mouth through   clientele  who have  availed   these  services.

The  allegations made  by the  Centre  for  Responsible  Tourism   are  baseless and  attempts  to  malign  GTDC and  its  private service  provider. The GTDC  strongly  believes  that  this   is the  handiwork  of  certain lobbies  envious  over the   success  of the  Women Taxi Service and  slams  the  CRT  for making irresponsible  statements. It has cast doubts on whether the CRT is really championing the cause of responsible tourism. The GTDC strongly backs the Green Earth Trans Logistics Pvt.  Ltd and its staff for the yeomen services being provided to women tourists in Goa.

The  GTDC has  countered  all allegations  made  by the  CRT reiterating  that  the contracting agency has  been  providing  efficient  and  excellent  service from  the day of  its  launch  till date.  The GTDC selected Green Earth Trans Logistics Pvt. Ltd. through a transparent tendering process and the letter of intent was handed over to the successful bidder on August 13, 2014.  This  is  the process  followed  by  GTDC    for all its  joint venture  projects  with  private  agencies.  “This is the process which has been followed in the past, in the present and for the future as well,” said GTDC Chairman Shri. Nilesh Cabral.     The GTDC does not invest in any form other than providing logistical support, marketing, promotion and requisite permissions.

The  company selected  for  Women Taxi Services is  qualified in providing  taxi services, road  safety, transportation and other logistics   under  the terms  and conditions  prescribed   by  the  GTDC  in the  contract. Appointment letters have been given to all employees under the Women Taxi Service and salaries paid as specified in the appointment letters.

All the  vehicles  are  fitted   with  GPS  tracking devises and   vehicles   can be  immobilized  from the control room  in case of  any  emergencies.  For  communication  purpose,   the   vehicles have a  centralized  communication systems connected to  the  control room where  at  the  press of a   button  the  travel hostesses  can contact the  control room for  two   way  communication.

 All candidates serving as travel hostesses have been trained with skills in self-defense. They have also been provided with cans of pepper spray as an additional measure. There has been no violation in the primary condition  of transporting women passengers. At  no  given time   have  male  customers   been catered  to  except when women passengers  travel with their   families.

There  is  adequate  record  to  show  that there  have  been no night  trips conducted after 8.00 pm.   In  the  event  of a trip  extending  beyond scheduled   working time, the  travel  hostesses are  allowed  to take  the  vehicle  home and evidence is  available  to prove this  from  GPS  reports. Training has  been provided  in first  aid  by  the Indian Red  Cross  Society and  certificates  are  available   for  scrutiny. Training in  mannerisms  and  etiquettes  have also  been provided by  Trade  Wings   and Karate  Sports  Club of  Goa.

As far as meters are concerned, they have been certified   by The Weights and Measures Department, Govt.  Of Goa and checked by the Directorate of Transport, Govt.  Of Goa,  only after which permissions were   accorded to the agency to ply the vehicles. The  fares   charged  are  as  per  the electronic  meter  readings  and  travel  hostesses  deposit the amount  collected  to the office account  based on the readings and fare  chart.

As far as salaries are concerned, those on training are paid a stipend of Rs 6,000. On completion of training and induction as permanent   staff, salary of Rs 15,000 is paid as   specified in the appointment letter. The appointment letter makes no provision for   overtime. Appointment letters have been provided to all the qualified candidates after successfully   completing the training and induction process. Regarding payments   from clientele, presently payments   are done through cash and account transfers. Regarding credit  card  payments, the mechanisms are being  worked  out  keeping  in mind the  safety of the  transactions and   will be  introduced in the  next phase.

The monitoring of the cab    is being done through the control room as well as on mobile apps by the management. Prominent  display of  emergency  contact  numbers  have been  informed  to  each and every travel hostess and  print  outs  also  given. Right from the time  employment has been  given to  all the  travel  hostesses, only one  has been terminated  on account of gross misconduct and  violent behavior  at the office.  There  is no harassment  inflicted on the travel hostesses. All employees who are working  as  travel  hostesses  have  a badge.

There  is  no  question of  any  falsification  related  to  the employee  as the  management  has  never  claimed  that  the appointment   as travel  hostesses is on GTDC or government t  payrolls.  This is a GTDC initiative and the employees have been appointed by Green Earth Trans Logistics Pvt. Ltd. All the travel  hostesses  have   the  privilege  of  using the  GTDC   residencies  for  parking their vehicles  and using the  lobbies for  resting  and access  to   clock room facilities.

As far as  the  demands made,  the management  states  that   the  employees  are  governed  by the  rules of   employment as  specified in the  appointment letter. The  GTDC is  however    working on a new  revenue  sharing  model   with the  travel  hostesses  where  they  will  be self  employed with a   share  in total revenue  earned,  in addition to their  fixed  income. The  GTDC Chairman, Shri.  Nilesh  Cabral  said, “Any  issue brought to the notice of the  GTDC   is  sorted  out  and  dialogues  are  on  to   resolve  certain matters  brought to the  attention  of the  Corporation.”

Shri. Cabral said, “However  indiscipline  of  any sort in the  execution of  the  taxi services will not  be  accepted and  action deemed  fit  will be taken.” Shri   Cabral    further said  that the  CRT should  have  co-ordinated  with  the  GTDC on  this  matter rather  than  allowing itself to be  misguided by certain  elements  who have failed  to  perform  in their  duties and responsibilities  towards  improving tourism  services in Goa.