Working to Educate Himself, Delivery Agent’s Viral LinkedIn Post Breaks Misconceptions

In a viral LinkedIn post, Anurag Bhargava, a law student at Delhi University, is trying to bring attention to his part-time career as a delivery agent in a bid to “clear misconceptions” and talk about the perks he gets.

Recently, delivery platforms have fallen under the radar for their treatment of delivery partners and support staff, who are battling lack of job security, variable pay, and much more. This discourse also stirred up when companies began promising 10-minute deliveries, putting out important questions about the safety of delivery personnel, among other issues. 

Moreover, delivery personnel are also subject to mistreatment, sometimes in terms of violence, and sometimes in how the rest of the world views their job. 

Anurag, through his post, aims to discuss the latter. 

He says he has been working as a delivery partner for some time to support his education, but notices that people “see [him] with pity” for this work. “These people are warriors. I will bow down to them, forever,” he notes. “This job can transform your personality for the good.”

He highlights the perks of the job — “easy money”, “flexible work”, “an outdoor job”, and “a decent income”. 

“You can focus on your education, gather exposure, and earn money. All at the same time. You can login at your convenience. I keep my mom with me in Delhi (in a decent locality) and we live a decent lifestyle,” he says. 

He also notes that he never faced any misbehavior at the hands of customers. 

Discussing the money, he says, “Yes, surely they won’t enter the race to be the next Ambanis or Tatas, but the remuneration is enough to sustain a decent lifestyle (not merely survive),” he adds.

He says one needs a tough mind to perform this job. “Contrary to popular belief, this job demands immense discipline and focus. Riding for six hours straight with responsibility towards the food you carry is easy, but demanding. This is no job for vagabonds, you need a tough mind to carry this out.” 

Anurag says the job has taught him a lot, including patience, discipline, respect for others, financial frugality, adventure, and being street smart.

“Empathy is all I have developed after getting exposed to how tough life really is. Today I see a person working hard to make ends meet. I try my best to help them in my best capacity,” he says. 

The post has, so far, amassed almost 12,500 likes, and the comments are all commending Anurag’s take on how the job is more than what meets the eye. 

You can read his full post here: 

Sources

‘We are slaves to them’: Zomato, Swiggy delivery workers speak up against unfair practices’ by Tanishka Sodhi for Newslaundry Published on 14 August 2021

Edited by Yoshita Rao