A Delhi-based creative head of an influencer marketing platform decided to become a Blinkit delivery agent for a day. Salman Saleem, who works at Vibes Network, took this step to understand what delivery workers face every day. In a viral LinkedIn post, Mr Saleem shared his experience and said that the job changed his perspective about work and society.

He pointed out that “untouchability isn’t only limited to caste” and added that “this profession is still struggling to earn its rightful dignity.” Mr Saleem’s day as a delivery partner was full of challenges. He had to deal with long traffic jams and hot weather. But what hurt the most was the way people treated him.

He wrote, “Not just policemen; even people in their AC cars treat delivery workers like second-class travellers.”

Faced disrespect in housing societies

While talking about the difficulties during deliveries, Mr Saleem said, “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 behaviour, he said, was most common in rich and educated housing societies—places where people often talk against discrimination on social media but do not follow it in real life. Mr Saleem added that people are often judged based on their job or appearance. He wrote, “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.”

Mr Saleem also gave a strong suggestion to companies like Zepto and Blinkit. He wrote, “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.”

His post received a lot of support from people online. One person commented, “Well said, Salman. The delivery agents have to go through such things on a daily basis, and it is tough. The only way we can contribute is to appreciate their efforts and be kind to them.”

Another said, “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 more added, “This is so disheartening to read. Discrimination never disappeared from our society; it took different forms, and that’s the saddest part of living in a world like ours.”

 

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