Food delivery executives lament discrimination in apartments

Hyderabad: Food delivery executives across Apps are an aggrieved lot; not that they have any complaints against their employers but against the ‘inhuman’ manner they are treated by the customers, who place orders. The situation worsened after an executive was bashed up by security guards in a building when he had gone to deliver an order.

Many executives alleged discrimination by building associations, especially in gated communities and high-rise apartments. They are denied use of elevators meant for residents and they have to only use service lifts.

In an incident at NCC Nagarjuna Residency in Gachibowli, an executive was thrashed by the building security personnel for using the residents’ lift. A case has been registered with the police over the incident.

A delivery executive Kalkaturi Ajay lamented, “we are treated as untouchables. Even residents stop us from taking the elevator despite it not being full. In some high-end apartments, they have separate elevators for people like us.”

He added, “There are some gated communities with five to six different blocks. Delivery executives are not allowed beyond the entrance gate, although we will be carrying groceries weighing around 30 to 40 kg.”

Jatavath Srikanth said, “there are malls that also have restaurants. When we have to pick the delivery, we are forced to remove our uniform. There are some residential communities, where we have to wait for the customer for up to 20 minutes to collect his packet. In some places, security personnel behave like goons. Recently at the Indian Institute of Management, after making the delivery, there was an argument with security guards, who ganged up and tried to beat me. I have taken a video of that.”  

Reggi Benedict spoke about threats for delivery executives, mostly during nigh deliveries. “The customer gives some isolated address and they opt for cash on delivery. We have encountered problems in some places where the customers take the delivery but do not pay.”

According to Aitharaju Mahesh, “I travel mostly in Kothapet, LB Nagar, Hayathnagar. Night delivery is bit risky as locals consuming alcohol create problems. Following our requests, our company has provided us with an SOS in the app that triggers an alarm with the police.”