A Delhi-based man decided to sign up as a Blinkit delivery partner to document what they face every day. He learnt that the stigma is real, and the discrimination against them is anything but subtle.
In a now-viral post on LinkedIn, Salman Saleem, who works as a creative head at a firm in the national capital, said he joined the app and picked up orders from the nearest Blinkit store.
“Untouchability is not only limited to caste. I enrolled on the application and went to the nearest Blinkit store. As I collected my order and rushed to deliver it, beating traffic, harsh sun, and dust. I realised that this profession is still struggling to earn its rightful dignity,” he said.
Saleem added, “Not just policemen, even people in their AC cars treat delivery workers like second-class travellers.”
But what hit hardest wasn’t the sun, it was the behaviour of people who preach inclusivity online. Saleem explained that in many housing societies, guards refused to let him use the main lift.
“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 post added that respect shouldn’t come with a dress code. “As a society, we need to understand that delivery executives are just as human as everyone else. We must stop making assumptions about someone’s character, status, or worth based on their uniform or appearance. Everyone deserves respect, regardless of their profession,” he said.
He also urged companies like Blinkit and Zepto to step up. “It’s high time grocery delivery companies like Zepto and Blinkit run awareness campaigns about the discrimination delivery workers face. These campaigns can help promote kindness and dignity, ensuring they’re treated fairly in public spaces,” Saleem said as he concluded his post.
Take a look at his post here:
Social media users echoed Saleem’s thoughts and shared their own experiences of witnessing such discrimination in the comments section.
“Well said Salman. I have even observed how, in societies, they treat delivery guys. They don’t allow maids or delivery guys to use lifts meant for residents. Double standards and hypocrisy should be named and shamed,” a user said.
Another user recalled a recent incident in their building. “A Zepto delivery guy got into the lift, and within seconds, a lady asked, ‘Aap delivery wale ho na?’ She questioned him twice and told him he should’ve used the other lift. He calmly said it wasn’t working, and the guard asked him to use this one. Her expression after that was so dismissive – it made me uncomfortable.”
“This is the new form of discrimination and untouchability. People say that it has been abolished, NO. It’s just that from caste, it has been changed to class. The form has changed, but it is still present,” one of the users said.
