Santosh Yadav, who has been working as a delivery boy for nearly six months, says circumstances at home forced him to take up the job. "With so many people ordering online ahead of Diwali, work hours often get extended to midnight. The company prefers to send even printers and laptops through us because mini vans may get stuck in traffic," he says.
"My parents are poor farmers. They cannot afford to pay for my higher studies," says 24-year-old Santosh Yadav, a delivery boy. He is pursuing graduation from School of Open Learning under Delhi University.
On an average, delivery boys work from 9am to 6pm but during Diwali, work hours may stretch well into the night. Most delivery men employed with online retail companies get paid between Rs 9,000 and Rs 11,000, excluding their PF contribution and the amount deducted for medical insurance.
Dr Deepak Choudhary, director, Safdarjung Sports Injury Center, says it is painful to see young individuals struggling with neck pain, strained shoulder muscles and backache because they carry heavy backpacks daily. "We get two to three such cases on every OPD day. While in most cases the symptoms tend to subside with rest and ice compression, there is always a risk of complications in future that can put them out of action for life," he says. According to the doctor, carrying these heavy bags may lead to disc problems and strain on the shoulder muscles like rotator cuff leading to pain and inflammation at a later stage.
At Okhla Phase I, which has become a major hub for collection and dispatch of goods for e-commerce companies, hundreds of these boys can be seen rushing in and out to deliver items on Wednesday, a day before Diwali. "If I can finish all deliveries today, Diwali will be an off day," says Ajay Lal, revving up his bike. Deepak Mandal, a 32-year-old Badarpur resident, was advised rest by doctors following neck pain last month. "The company allowed me to carry lighter items when I showed them the prescription. But due to the Diwali rush, the loads have become heavier," he confesses.
Some of the delivery boys say they hate their jobs but being non-graduates they have little option. "I know driving. In near future, I plan to take up commercial driving to earn a livelihood. I cannot afford to do this back-breaking job anymore," says Rashid.
Dr Yash Gulati of BLK Super Specialty Hospital says the circumstances in which delivery persons for online retail companies work are no different from that of the porters. "They are rather more difficult. The latter can make a choice about the weight they may carry but these young individuals are forced to do so to earn a livelihood. Accidents caused due to poor balancing of the backpacks while riding bikes is common," he says.
"Even if we have to deliver a pen drive to one customer, the entire bag has to be carried because if any item is lost the company can deduct the cost from our salary," says Sanjeev Kumar as he quickly finishes his lunch. Experts say backpacks should not weigh more than 15-20% of the person's body weight but the online retail chains do not follow any such rules. While few companies have hired their own delivery boys, others get it done through courier agencies.
An e-commerce company was recently reported to have been attempting to redesign the courier bags to improve both delivery and customer experience. More such innovative initiatives may finally free the delivery boys from the tyranny of the backpacks.
Times View
It is inhuman that anybody in this modern age should be made to work like a pack mule. That it should be happening in sectors that are so modern — courier companies and e-retailing — only makes it worse. There is surely a better way of conducting the business than making young boys carry such heavy loads on their back. The courts had to step in to mandate that there must be a limit to the weight schoolchildren are made to carry. We hope that it will not require similar judicial intervention to end this inhuman practice. The government should regulate working conditions in this area, the sooner the better.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
You click, they break their backs to deliver
Dengan url
http://sehatputihgigiku.blogspot.com/2014/10/you-click-they-break-their-backs-to_24.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
You click, they break their backs to deliver
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
You click, they break their backs to deliver
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar