A video featuring Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha dressed as a Blinkit delivery partner and completing grocery drop-offs has quickly spread across social media, triggering a wider discussion on the working conditions of India’s gig economy workforce. The visuals show Chadha riding a scooter in a delivery-style uniform, navigating city roads while handing over orders, an uncommon sight for a sitting parliamentarian.
According to people familiar with the initiative, the exercise was intended to draw attention to the realities faced by delivery partners who power India’s fast-growing quick commerce sector. Platforms promising ultra-fast deliveries have expanded rapidly across metros, employing lakhs of riders who operate under strict timelines, incentive-linked payouts, and algorithm-driven performance tracking.
Chadha used the moment to highlight issues that delivery workers routinely raise, including income volatility, long working hours, exposure to traffic and weather risks, and limited access to benefits such as health insurance, accident cover, and social security. While the gig model offers flexibility and entry-level earning opportunities, labour experts note that it also shifts risk from companies to workers.
The move has generated mixed reactions. Supporters argue that the gesture helped humanise a workforce often viewed only through app interfaces and delivery times. They say public representatives experiencing such roles firsthand can better advocate for labour protections. Critics, however, questioned whether symbolic participation leads to policy reform, pointing out that regulatory clarity around gig work remains unresolved despite years of debate.
India’s gig economy is estimated to employ millions across food delivery, quick commerce, ride-hailing, and logistics. As competition intensifies and delivery promises become shorter, concerns around rider safety, fair compensation, and legal recognition are increasingly central to discussions on the sector’s long-term viability.
While opinions differ on the effectiveness of Chadha’s approach, the episode has succeeded in pushing gig worker welfare back into public focus. Whether this renewed attention translates into legislative action or platform-level changes will be closely watched by workers, companies, and policymakers alike.
