In a heartfelt and eye-opening move, Salman Saleem, a Delhi-based creative head at Vibes Network, stepped out of his comfortable corporate role for a day to experience life as a Blinkit delivery partner. His aim? To truly understand the struggles these workers face every day — struggles that often go unnoticed and unacknowledged by society.
Not Just a Delivery Job – A Mirror to Society
Salman shared his experience in a powerful LinkedIn post, where he revealed how a single day on the job reshaped his views on workplace dignity, class bias, and societal behavior.
“Untouchability isn’t just about caste anymore; it’s about class, jobs, and appearances. This profession still struggles to earn the dignity it deserves.”
What He Faced:
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Harsh weather and long traffic jams with no empathy from others.
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Disrespectful behavior from people in luxury cars and law enforcement.
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Denied access to main lifts in residential buildings.
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Forced to use stairs or service elevators even for deliveries to the 4th floor.
A Society That Preaches, But Rarely Practices
What troubled Salman the most wasn’t the physical exhaustion. It was the cold stares, judgment, and lack of basic human courtesy. And surprisingly, it came from the very residents of the so-called “educated and elite” housing societies.
“People talk about equality and discrimination on social media but fail to practice it in real life.”
Hypocrisy in Action:
| What They Preach | What They Practice |
|---|---|
| Equality for all | But treat delivery workers as invisible |
| Vocal against discrimination | But restrict delivery agents from main lifts |
| Empathy and kindness | But ignore the effort behind a 10-minute delivery |
Call for Change: From Awareness to Action
Salman didn’t just stop at storytelling. He called for immediate action from big grocery platforms like Blinkit and Zepto.
His Suggestions:
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Run awareness campaigns highlighting the discrimination faced by delivery partners.
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Educate customers on treating gig workers with dignity.
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Make empathy and fairness a core brand value.
“It’s high time we treated delivery agents as fellow humans, not just facilitators of our comfort.”
Ripple Effect: The Internet Responds
Salman’s post quickly went viral, striking a chord with netizens who resonated with his message.
Comments That Stood Out:
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“This is class-based untouchability. It never disappeared, just changed form.”
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“It’s heartbreaking how we’ve normalized disrespect for people who work the hardest.”
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“We must stop judging someone by their uniform. Thank you, Salman, for raising this.”
Walking the Talk: More Than Just a One-Day Job
This wasn’t a one-off stunt for Salman. He has previously taken on roles such as:
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An e-rickshaw driver
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A daily wage laborer
Each experience helped him better empathize with the lives of those who form the backbone of urban society.
FAQs
1. Why did Salman Saleem become a Blinkit delivery agent?
To gain firsthand insight into the lives of delivery workers and understand the discrimination and challenges they face daily.
2. What challenges did he face during the day?
He experienced traffic woes, rude behavior, restrictions from using main lifts, and societal bias based on his attire and role.
3. What was the key message of his post?
That society needs to treat all professions with dignity, and stop judging individuals based on class, uniforms, or appearances.
4. What actions did Salman suggest for companies like Blinkit and Zepto?
He urged them to run awareness campaigns to combat the discrimination delivery agents face and promote a culture of kindness.
If anything, Salman’s bold step reminds us all: Dignity of labor isn’t just a slogan — it’s a mindset we need to build.
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Sachin is a dedicated writer specializing in education, career, and recruitment topics, delivering clear and actionable insights to empower readers.