‘Have no choice’: Extreme heat takes toll on outdoor workers

The impact of hot days in the Capital is faced most acutely by those whose livelihoods depend on working under the sun. Some of them shared their difficulties with HT’s Aaditya Khatwani.

- Aaditya Khatwani

FARMAN ALI (29), DELIVERY EXEC

Ali, who has been a gig delivery worker for four years, says he and his colleagues are left to the mercy of restaurants and food outlets assigned in their orders. He claims that while heat can be debilitating, daily incentives are earned only by working at least for an hour and a half between noon to 4pm and 7pm to 10pm. ‘Some restaurants refill our water and let us sit while we wait, but most tell us to stand outside in the heat while the food is made. When we reach customers, sometimes people offer us water, but many also abuse us for being even a little late,’ says Ali. ‘Working with a fever due to heat is a common experience.’

GOMTI (60), STREET VENDOR AT DILLI HAAT

This senior citizen says she works a 12-hour shift daily and barely makes around –500-600 from selling jewellery. While she follows some rules to ensure she does not fall ill in summer, she says she cannot stay away from the spot as the customer footfall reduces on summer days.