Saturday Deep Dive - From Village to City: A Struggle in India’s Gig Economy

India’s rapid urbanization and the rise of its gig economy have transformed the lives of millions. Yet, beneath the surface of this economic boom lies a more complex and often untold story. The promise of flexible work and quick earnings has attracted many and has been positive overall for India’s economy.

But for individuals like Ramesh, a young man who left his village for the hustle and bustle of Delhi, the reality is much harsher. The lure of opportunity in the city often means juggling multiple gigs, navigating chaotic streets, and enduring long, exhausting hours for modest pay.

In this week’s ‘Saturday Deep Dive’, we follow Ramesh’s journey from a quiet village to the relentless pace of Delhi’s gig economy. Through his eyes, we explore the challenges and sacrifices made by workers like him, who fuel India’s growth but often struggle to keep up with its demands. Join us as we delve into the highs and lows of this fast-paced world and the questions it raises about the future of work in India.

Enjoy!

Leaving the Village Behind

Ramesh spent his entire life in a small village where things rarely changed. The pace of life was slow, and the most eventful days involved a buffalo running loose through the narrow streets. But that slow pace, though comforting, wasn’t enough for Ramesh. As the eldest son of his family, he felt a growing responsibility to support his parents, siblings, and their modest household.

The future he and his family envisioned could not be sustained by village farming or small odd jobs. It was clear that staying behind would not provide the financial support they needed.

So, one day, with hope in his heart and only a few belongings tied in a bundle, Ramesh left for Delhi. People said the city was full of opportunities—jobs, money, and a better life. The thought of leaving his village was daunting, but the need to provide for his family was stronger. He had no idea what awaited him, but the promise of earning more than he could back home was enough to push him forward.

Welcome to the City of Dreams

Delhi, for Ramesh, was unlike anything he had imagined. The sheer size of the city, the relentless flow of vehicles, and the constant noise were overwhelming. He had heard of cities being busy, but this was more than he could have prepared for. The streets were filled with cars honking, people rushing by, and skyscrapers that seemed to go on forever. It was as if the city was alive, always moving, always in a hurry.

His friends, who had moved to Delhi before him, welcomed him with knowing smiles. "Welcome to the concrete jungle," they joked, patting him on the back. Though Ramesh laughed, it didn’t take long for him to recognize the real challenges of city life.

Through these friends, Ramesh learned about the "gig economy." They explained that he could take up various short-term jobs—delivering packages, groceries, and food, or even offering rides to people. It sounded promising, so Ramesh decided to give it a try, joining thousands of others who made their living this way.

First Gig—Delivering Packages

Ramesh’s first job was delivering packages for companies like Flipkart and Amazon. The task seemed simple enough—pick up the packages and drop them at people's homes. Each successful delivery earned him ₹15, and while it wasn’t much, it was start. However, navigating Delhi’s sprawling streets was far from simple. The map on his phone offered little help, and the maze of similar-sounding localities often left him going in circles.

One of his first deliveries was to a colony in Delhi. In his village, instructions such as “near big tree” would make perfect sense—everyone knew the one big pipal in the center of the village. But in Delhi, every street seemed to have several big trees. After stopping to ask for directions from a dozen people, Ramesh finally found the right house. The customer was patient, but Ramesh was already exhausted by the time he handed over the package.

That day, Ramesh completed 30 deliveries and earned ₹450. It wasn’t much, but it was something. He went to bed tired, yet satisfied, already envisioning a way to make the system work for him.

Juggling Food and Grocery Deliveries

Soon enough, Ramesh realized that just delivering packages wouldn’t be enough to earn the kind of money he needed. That’s when he signed up for more gigs—quick grocery deliveries and food delivery through apps like Zomato and Swiggy, both of which promised higher payouts.

The grocery deliveries paid ₹30 per drop, but the rush was different. People wanted their groceries quickly, and the pressure of delivering within minutes was stressful. On top of that, food delivery had its own challenges. Customers wanted their meals hot and fresh, which meant that Ramesh was constantly racing against time. The pay for food deliveries was slightly better—₹40 per delivery. If he hit certain targets, like completing 20 deliveries in a day, he earned a bonus. The first time he hit that target, he felt like he had hit the jackpot. The extra ₹500 felt like a small fortune.

With grocery and food deliveries combined (5 hours each), Ramesh was making around ₹25,000 a month. Slowly but surely, he was finding his way in Delhi. But the work was relentless. The city seemed to demand every ounce of his energy. His days started early and stretched long into the night. Often, there was little time to rest.

Taking on More with Bike Rides

In a bid to increase his earnings, Ramesh took on yet another job—offering bike rides to people in need of a quick lift during rush hours. The money here was better—₹70-80 per ride—and the work was different. He enjoyed riding through the city, dodging traffic and zipping through narrow lanes. There was an adrenaline rush to it, especially when passengers chatted with him about their busy lives or made funny requests, like asking if he could drive like a Bollywood stunt rider.

On good days, Ramesh completed 5-7 rides (in 3 hours), earning between ₹300 and ₹400 daily. At the end of the month, his bike rides alone brought in anywhere between ₹10,000 and ₹12,000. This income made a huge difference, but it also meant more hours on the road, less time for himself, and constant exhaustion.

The Night Watchman Job

Despite working all day, Ramesh still felt the need for more stability, something that didn’t involve rushing through traffic. So, he found a part-time job as a night watchman. The pay was low—just ₹6,000 a month—but it was steady and allowed him some peace.

Working from 2 AM to 8 AM as a watchman was a different kind of job. The night was quiet, and he could rest a little while on duty. It gave him time to reflect on his life, his family back home, and his hopes for the future. The residents of the building he watched were kind and even started offering him tea and snacks during his shift.

Calculating His Earnings

After months of working around the clock, Ramesh decided to sit down and calculate his earnings:

• Quick grocery deliveries (half day): ₹600/day x 27 days = ₹16,200/month

• Food deliveries: ₹500/day x 27 days = ₹13,500/month

• Bike rides: ₹420/day x 27 days = ₹11,340/month

• Night watchman job: ₹6,000/month (fixed)

Total monthly earnings: ₹47,040.

For someone who arrived in Delhi with only a few hundred rupees in his pocket, this was a significant sum. It allowed him to cover his rent, send money back to his family, and even save a little. But the cost of this income was high. His days were long and tiring. His life, once simple and slow, had turned into a never-ending cycle of work.

The Struggle Behind India’s Growth Story

As Ramesh worked day after day, he began to think more about the larger picture. India was growing fast, and cities like Delhi were at the heart of that growth. The newspapers and television channels were always talking about how the economy was booming, how India was becoming a global player, and how opportunities were everywhere.

But for people like Ramesh, this growth story felt far removed from reality. He was working from sunrise to late into the night, often juggling three to four different jobs. Yet, after he had sent money home, he was just getting by. It was more money than he ever earned but he didn’t have any time for himself. The city that promised so much seemed to demand everything in return.

As Ramesh sipped his evening tea after another exhausting day, he couldn’t help but wonder if all this hard work was really worth it. Was this the life that India’s growing economy had to offer to its laborers? Were they just cogs in a machine, working tirelessly to fuel the country’s progress while barely managing to keep their own heads above water?

A Hard Question

And this is the contradiction that we face in India. India’s cities are modern, full of big companies and technology, yet people like Ramesh—gig workers—are doing the hardest jobs for very little pay. If you compare Ramesh’s earnings to workers doing similar jobs in Western countries, the difference is staggering.

Gig workers in the West earn far more for the same amount of work, with better protections, benefits, and rights. In India, however, Ramesh and others like him are struggling to survive, with no guarantee of a secure future while founders of these companies are becoming billionaires.

The gig economy offers opportunities, but is it enough? Is the compensation fair for the endless hours of work? Is it just a temporary lifeline, or is it trapping people in a cycle where they would always have to hustle just to survive?

These are hard questions, ones that don’t have easy answers. Ramesh knows he is luckier than many others. He has work, he has an income, and he is managing to support his family. But deep down, he can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. As India continues to grow, will its workers also see the benefits? Or will they remain on the outskirts, working hard but never truly seeing the fruits of their labor?

As the city around us buzzed with its usual noise and chaos, Ramesh reflected on his journey. He had come far from his village, and he had achieved more than he ever thought possible. But the future still seemed uncertain. The gig economy has given him a way to survive, but it hasn’t given him peace. And with that thought, he wondered: Is surviving really enough?