This episode is a prequel to understanding the state of platform delivery workers in India before the electric transition kicks in.
I’m interviewing Raskhita Swamy, founder of SocialAccountability Form for Action and Research (SAFAR), who advocates for better working environments for platform workers.
As has been the theme of the show, we dive deeper into understanding the various variables of the Electric Vehicle transition in the country. One of the biggest uptakes of EVs has been by platform and delivery workers in India and globally. But as digital platforms and governments start accelerating the pace on EVs amongst gig workers – it becomes imperative to understand their welfare and economic well-being.
And the numbers don’t look so good.
This is for India –
Cab Drivers (Click for the source here and also, more links in the show notes below):
99.3% report Physical Health Issues and 98.5% report Mental health issues
40.7% don’t take a single day off in a week and 60% drivers drive over 12hrs/day
Delivery Workers
85.9% of delivery workers find 10-minute instant deliveryunacceptable
87% of delivery persons face ID Blocking
91% are full time workers and 75% are working over 10 hours/day
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Shownotes:
1. Poetry “Thakur ka Kuan” explainer in English
2. Disproportionate burden on gig workers to go electric
3. How electric vehicles are helping gig delivery riders
4. Delhi govt’s newest push toward EVs burdens intermediaries & gig workers. Learn from China
5. Google Drive Link: With all resources and research papers
Image Credit: @safvan_cholakkan
