Spare a thought for the ride-hailing drivers for whom, as lone operators, getting insured is one of their biggest headaches. One lady, however, has used her new-found influence to bring about change. For when a CPC secretary speaks up, people tend to do what they’re told.
Recently, Shi Meiling (53) was awarded the honorary title of “Most Beautiful Grassroots Cadre” in Jiangsu by the Propaganda Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Shi is also a CPC Committee Secretary and Neighbourhood Committee Director of Xijin Gudu Community in Jinshan Subdistrict of Runzhou District in Zhenjiang City.
And that’s where the ride-hailing drivers come in, for the adjacent Xijin Ancient Ferry attraction being part of Shi’s domain, and a oft-visited destination for local drivers.
Meanwhile, Chen Qian, a local publicity committee member, believes that Shi has the ability to reduce complexity to simplicity. It’s helped her to resolve various problems relatively easily, making her a role model from whom young cadres can learn.
When Shi learned about the ride-hailing industry, with all its different operators and policies, she felt that there must be an industry standard. The Secretary went on to contact various departments and public transportation bureaus, having conceived the idea of creating a “drivers’ home”.
Shi found an idle place in her community and the Zhenjiang Ride-hailing Drivers’ Home came to officially be. In this way, many drivers have found a sense of belonging; now they have a place to talk about the urgent, difficult and even anxiety-inducing issues they face.
Then came that of insurance. Shi had learned from drivers that the biggest headache they had was that insurance was very expensive and difficult to obtain.
On account that ride-hailing is poorly managed and insurance payouts are high, the industry is a huge loss-making business segment for major insurance companies. Therefore, many commercial insurance institutions have a disguised refusal to sell commercial insurance thereto.
With establishing the Drivers’ Home, Shi felt an obligation to serve them well. And with her promotion, she was able to mobilise members of the Zhenjiang Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, as well as representatives of ride-hailing drivers and companies, together with insurance companies.
Feeling the pressure to cooperate with the Party looking on, as a result, the insurance institutions launched three customised plans, which effectively solved the problem of expensive insurance and difficulties in the purchasing thereof for local ride-hailing drivers.
“The most important thing in doing community work is to use your heart and your feelings”, Shi said afterward speaking to the Yangtze Evening News. “Opportunities will always come to those who keep moving forward, as long as they have new ideas.”
