Baked for daily bread

Food delivery agents work in blistering heat for modest income, LPG delivery personnel say they manage with occasional tips from clients

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This summer, food delivery agents said they wish they could be anywhere other than on the streets, sweating under their helmets and perpetually thirsty. however, they have no such luck. it is important that they take orders from 11 am to 3 pm every day to claim their daily incentive. They usually get a small additional wage for deliveries during rain, but receive no bonuses in summer, they said.

said 42-year-old Ponraj (name changed), a food delivery agent in Ambattur, “There are some major apartments like the one on Maduravoyal service road which do not allow our bikes enter their premises. We are forced to walk at least a kilometre to the blocks mentioned in the address under this sun. We have fought against these apartment policies several times, but in vain. They ask us to go on foot for the fear of the delivery agents causing accidents. The practice is discriminatory because they allow all other vehicles inside.”