During the recent debate over India’s ’10-minute’ delivery service economy, those who criticised the gig worker model and suggested that getting rid of it would lead to all the gig guys getting regular jobs should give attention to the latest Economic Survey, which mentioned that the gig work is the fastest-growing source of employment. And if these 10-min-delivery-service model collapses, some of these employment opportunities would disappear, and people would be forced to scramble for a living in the informal sector, where they would be even worse off. And, if the same apply the same idea to the 24/7 convenience apps that we have in our hands – the question stands clear – our demands are eased due to these apps and in return the jobs created in fulfilling the needs of those who take these gigs. Let’s understand this through the story of Milind Chandwani’s journey from Kempegowda International Airport and Bengaluru city.
The stretch of road between International Airport and city in Bengaluru at 3:00 AM is usually a blur of sodium vapor lamps and the rhythmic hum of tires on road. For most passengers, it’s a time for mindless scrolling or a shallow nap they take either going to home or work. But for Milind, an IIM graduate, it became the classroom for an impromptu lesson in the human cost of the “24/7” economy and so for us.
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The encounter as per a report by The Logical Indian, began not with a conversation, but with a sign of over done hustle. Chandwani noticed that his driver, while championing his necessity to get a ride, was losing a battle with biological necessity—the driver’s eyelids were heavy, his movements sluggish and sleep was slowly taking over. He wasn’t just fatigued; he was hitting a physical wall.
And, then in a move that defied the typical passenger-driver dynamics, Chandwani made a suggestion: he would take the wheel. The driver’s response was immediate, no hesitation, no questioning of credentials; he handed over the keys with the relief of a man being thrown a life jacket while sinking in a sea just this time it was w ocean of sleep.
As the city’s quiet and tree-lined streets rolled by, the roles inside the cab was entirely reversed. The “captain” of the vehicle reclined his seat and fell into a deep sleep, leaving his passenger to navigate the roads of Bengaluru using only the glow and voice of Google Maps.
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The Cost of the “Double”
The reality of the driver’s “hustle” crystallised just five minutes before the destination. A phone call from his supervisor pierced the ocean of sleep like a tsunami, requesting his availability for a day shift. Chandwani listened as the driver, his voice thick with exhaustion, finally admitted he could no longer manage the grueling night rotation.
It was a reminder of the invisible labor that powers the city’s convenience—a relentless cycle of shifts that often pushes workers to the brink of safety for the sake of a livelihood and at times like the reversal of seats is crucial. The issue of ’10-minute’ demand and service can also be solver in similar fashion – transfer yourself in the captain seat.
When the journey concluded, the tension broke with a moment of levity. After handing back the keys and providing a Rs 100 tip, Chandwani jokingly requested a five-star rating for his driving. The shared laughter between the two men—one an graduate, the other a weary laborer—bridged a gap that usually remains uncrossed.
