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New Delhi: In a gesture that has resonated widely amid growing unrest among gig workers, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha hosted a Blinkit delivery partner for lunch at his residence, offering a personal hearing to the rider whose video on low earnings and exhausting work hours had sparked a nationwide debate.
The delivery partner recently went viral after sharing that he earned just ₹763 for completing 28 deliveries over nearly 15 hours, drawing sharp attention to the realities faced by app-based workers in India’s fast-expanding gig economy.
Chadha, who had raised concerns during the Winter Session of Parliament over low pay, long working hours and the absence of social security for gig and platform workers, took note of the video and publicly expressed solidarity with the delivery partner. He reiterated the need for urgent reforms to safeguard the rights and dignity of gig workers.
The issue has acquired added urgency as delivery partners across several cities have resorted to strikes and protests in recent weeks. Gig workers observed a mass strike on December 25, 2025, and have announced another shutdown on December 31, New Year’s Eve — a traditionally busy period for food and grocery deliveries. The protests have been called by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFATW).
Workers have consistently flagged concerns about opaque algorithm-driven targets, arbitrary penalties, sudden changes in payout structures, and the absence of effective grievance redressal mechanisms — issues that underscore the structural vulnerabilities of India’s platform-based workforce.
Following the conclusion of Parliament’s Winter Session, Chadha invited the delivery partner to his residence earlier this week. The lunch meeting was described as informal and warm, allowing for an open and candid conversation. Over the meal, the delivery rider spoke about long working hours, uncertain daily earnings, algorithm-based performance pressures and the lack of basic safeguards or institutional support.
The delivery partner expressed appreciation for being heard, describing the interaction as reassuring and respectful. Chadha, in turn, reaffirmed his commitment to raising these concerns at the policy level, stressing that India’s gig economy cannot be built at the cost of workers’ well-being. The interaction underscored a simple yet powerful message: meaningful policy reform begins by listening to those most affected on the ground.
