Delhi Man Signs Up as Delivery Agent, Experiences Untouchability in Urban India
Break 10 Web Desk: “Untouchability is not only limited to caste,” says Salman Saleem, creative head at a Delhi-based firm who took a day off from his desk job to work as an ecommerce delivery agent. His intention was to understand the challenges faced by gig workers. What he encountered was a stark revelation of the societal biases and discrimination that delivery personnel endure daily.
Saleem shared his experiences in a LinkedIn post that has since gone viral. He was often denied access to main elevators in residential complexes, being directed instead to use service lifts or climb stairs, sometimes up to the fourth floor. He also observed that law enforcement officers too treated delivery workers as second-class citizens.
“Not just policemen, even people in their AC cars treat delivery workers like second-class travellers,” he added.
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“As I proceeded with my deliveries for the day, I was often stopped from using the main lift. I was either asked to take the stairs, sometimes up to the 4th floor, or use the service lift. This kind of treatment was especially common in housing societies where the so-called rich and educated live, the same people who vocalise their opinions against all forms of discrimination on social media,” Saleem said.
Saleem’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the societal attitudes towards gig workers and the urgent need for systemic change to ensure dignity and respect for all professions.
