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\nThe Harsh Reality of Delivery Workers in India<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nAs the scorching summer heat engulfs Delhi, the lives of platform-based gig workers have become a stark example of how the climate crisis is disproportionately impacting the country’s most vulnerable populations.<\/span><\/p>\nOutside the inventory stores of quick commerce companies like Zomato-owned Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, delivery workers wait in the unforgiving 45-degree heat to collect their orders. With single, worn-out water coolers as their only respite, they refill their bottles and wet their scarves before heading out to brave the blazing sun.<\/span><\/p>\nThese delivery workers, who number around 400 daily at the Kishangarh compound, are forced to spend hours under the scorching sun both while waiting for orders and during deliveries, with little to no institutional support from their employers.\u00a0 Many workers, unable to afford taking time off, continue to work despite falling ill due to the heat.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Toll on Health and Livelihoods<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe Indian Express spoke to nearly 60 gig workers and found that over 30% of them had to take a break from work after falling sick due to the extreme heat.\u00a0 Martin, a Swiggy Instamart delivery worker, says he has had a “debilitating headache” at work every day for the past two months, which he attributes to the sun, but cannot afford to take a break.<\/span><\/p>\nThe lack of empathy from supervisors further exacerbates the workers’ struggles. Rahul Singh, a Zomato delivery worker, recounts how he fell sick due to the severe heat and could not work for eight days, but his team leader never checked on him or inquired about his well-being.<\/span><\/p>\nThe climate crisis not only harms the health of these gig workers but also their livelihoods. For vendors selling perishable goods like fresh produce, the heat causes rapid deterioration, leading to an average daily loss of \u20b9500-600.\u00a0 Additionally, 71.05% of vendors struggle to access medical care due to financial constraints, putting their lives at risk.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Irony of Sustainability Goals<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe plight of these gig workers highlights the irony of the sustainability goals set by their employers. Zomato, for instance, proudly claims that around a quarter of its 647 million deliveries last year were made by workers on bicycles, positioning this as part of its “climate conscious deliveries.”<\/span><\/p>\nHowever, the reality is that these workers, who are essential to Zomato’s sustainability efforts, are themselves at greater risk due to the climate crisis. Rahul, the Zomato delivery worker, questions the company’s claims, asking, “So, as I burn myself in the heat by delivering orders on my bicycle, I’m actually helping Zomato achieve its climate goals?”<\/span><\/p>\nLack of Awareness and Support<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe study by Greenpeace India and the National Hawkers Federation found that while 68% of street vendors in Delhi are aware of heatwaves, only 10% know about the city’s Heat Action Plan (HAP). Furthermore, 82% of vendors have not received any guidance on handling extreme heat.<\/span><\/p>\nTo combat the heat, vendors resort to temporary measures like covering their heads with cloth and adding cooling foods to their diet, but these are not sustainable solutions. The report calls for the provision of primary healthcare, drinking water stations, common cooling centers, and government “loss and damage” funds to support these vulnerable workers.<\/span><\/p>\n
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