Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha on Tuesday highlighted what he called the harsh reality of India’s gig economy after a post on social media showed that delivery chief Blinkit earns only ₹762.57 despite completing 28 deliveries in a single day.
According to a screenshot shared by Chadha on X, the delivery man worked for almost 15 hours – that’s 14 hours and 39 minutes – to complete the orders. Including his total earnings ₹690.57 from supplies and ₹72 as an incentive, which means an average hourly income of roughly ₹52.
“This is not a ‘gig economy success,'” Chadha wrote. “This is a systemic exploit hidden behind apps and algorithms.”
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The lawmaker said the example reflects what millions of gig workers experience every day, pointing to low pay, challenging targets and the absence of job security or social protection. Chadha added that he had recently raised concerns about the conditions of gig workers in Parliament.
Check out Raghav Chadha’s post here:
“India cannot build a digital economy on the backs of underpaid and overworked human beings,” he said, calling for fair wages, humane working hours and social security guarantees for gig workers.
The post also sparked a wider online discussion, with the investor dissecting the economics behind profits. Assuming an average distance of 4km per delivery – including pick-up and drop-off – a rider would cover approximately 112km per day. With a vehicle mileage of roughly 40 km per litre, the fuel costs alone could amount to approx ₹300.
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Factoring in food and basic daily expenses further erodes household income. “Decent food costs money ₹50 to ₹100. That’s it ₹150 to ₹300 a day just for food,” the investor noted, adding that the delivery worker may have up to ₹150 to ₹200 after expenses, despite driving over 100 km in heavy traffic and stressful conditions.
Watch the original video here:
The investor added that delivery staff are “doing a wonderful job” and deserve to earn more, questioning whether India’s reluctance to pay for delivery services is contributing to the problem.
The debate has once again focused attention on working conditions in India’s fast-growing gig economy, even as flash trading platforms continue to grow at a rapid pace.
One user wrote: “Delivery workers battle heavy traffic, extreme heat, rain and pollution every day and risk their lives for 10 minute orders and low pay. Ban ultra-fast delivery! Ensure fair pay and safety for gig workers.”
Another user wrote: “Make it a law: like in the US and Canada you have to be paid at least minimum wage per day. How does that make sense?”
“All Gig economy workers get is peanuts. Cheap consumer convenience is burdened by millions of unemployed youth forced to work for less than uneducated unskilled labor,” wrote a third user.
