A social media post by a 23-year-old investor from Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi sparked a lively online debate after he tried to calculate the daily earnings of LPG cylinder delivery workers.
The discussion comes at a time when LPG prices have risen in several Indian cities, partly due to global supply cuts related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
An investor took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his experience of receiving an LPG cylinder after the recent price hike and described the interaction with the delivery person.
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“I got an LPG cylinder today! The LPG cylinder costs me.” ₹976 like ₹60 increased. I offered ₹1000 to the delivery man but he has no change as he has only ₹500 notes. I wonder if he delivers 30-40 cylinders a day ₹25 per roll he earns ₹1000 per day. Monthly – 30,000 + salary,” he wrote.
His post indicated that if the delivery person receives the bike ₹25 more per roll – either through tipping or small additional payments – their daily earnings could reach almost ₹1000.
However, many social media users were quick to question this assumption and defended the work done by the LPG delivery workers.
Several commenters pointed out that the job requires significant physical labor, including lifting and transporting heavy gas cylinders, often over multiple floors in residential buildings.
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“Carrying bottles is not easy. Try doing it for a day,” wrote one user, saying the calculation underestimates the difficulty of the job.
Others have noted that tipping is not guaranteed and can vary greatly by area, customer and circumstances. Some users also highlighted the long working hours and logistical problems that delivery people face on a daily basis.
The viral post also drew attention again to the larger issue of rising LPG prices and supply chain tensions.
Recently, oil companies have increased the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder by ₹60 across India. At the same time, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder, widely used by restaurants and businesses, was increased, o ₹144.
One of the main factors behind the increase is the steady rise in LPG consumption across the country as millions of households rely on the fuel for daily cooking.
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Globally, tensions in the Middle East – a region that is a major source of energy – have contributed to instability in energy markets, pushing up prices and raising concerns about stability of supply.
Logistical and transport bottlenecks have also slowed distribution in some areas, putting further pressure on supplies.
In response to the developing situation, the Union Government has invoked the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act to ensure that the country’s power supply remains stable and prioritized for essential consumption.
Meanwhile, the investor’s post is still circulating widely online, with many users saying the debate reflects a broader conversation about the value of manual labor and the reality of jobs that often go unnoticed.
