New Delhi, Dec. 27, 2025: Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha hosted a Blinkit delivery partner for lunch at his residence this week after a viral video showed the rider earning just ₹763 for nearly 15 hours of work and 28 deliveries, reigniting debate over the working conditions of India’s gig economy.
The delivery partner, whose video sparked widespread discussion online, used the informal meeting to share firsthand accounts of long working hours, unpredictable earnings and pressure from app-based algorithms. The interaction took place shortly after the conclusion of Parliament’s winter session.
“I felt relieved that someone was willing to listen,” the delivery partner said after the meeting. “It wasn’t just about money, but about dignity and security.”
Chadha said the issues raised during the conversation reflect systemic problems faced by gig and platform workers across the country. “India’s gig economy cannot grow by exhausting its workers,” he said. “Fair pay, social security and a grievance mechanism are not privileges—they are necessities.”
The MP had earlier raised concerns in Parliament about low payouts, absence of social protection and the lack of regulatory oversight for app-based work platforms. He reiterated that those concerns were shaped by real experiences similar to that of the Blinkit rider.
The meeting comes amid growing unrest among gig workers nationwide. Delivery partners affiliated with the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers staged a nationwide strike on Dec. 25 and have announced another strike on Dec. 31, coinciding with peak year-end demand.
Workers have cited opaque algorithm-based targets, sudden changes in payout structures and arbitrary penalties as key grievances.
Chadha said he would continue to raise the matter at the policy level. “Listening is the first step,” he said. “Action must follow.”
