Living in poverty violates the fundamental right to dignity.
Loss of dignity is a much bigger issue than poverty. Some of the poorest people are the most dignified whereas some of the rich lack the dignity.
When we keep the desire to help – maintaining their dignity should be our first priority.
The help we wish to offer – need not always be direct,it need not be posted on social media and it shouldn’t be done with any expectation in mind.
Like the saying goes,”Your left hand should not know what the right hand is doing”.
Today would want to talk about the Heroes on two-wheelers -our delivery boys who also form part of the front line workers who have been selflessly delivering food and other things to us racing with the clock during this pandemic.
They work for different companies who are tied up with these fast food outlets,restaurants,supermarkets…
Their income is based on the number of rides they do in a day.
When you think of them – you can visualize a man with a phone in one hand, an unstrapped helmet on the other,sweat pouring from the forehead and a heavy backpack full of orders.
In the peak summers it can be very tiring and dehydrating for them.They unfortunately don’t have lunch breaks or rest times in the day.They suffer from lack of rest,food and sleep coping with the different shift timings.Everything is on commission basis for them depending on the deliveries they do in a day.
They are doing it for a living and the least we can do is thank them and offer them some water.
The nature of their job is such that they don’t have off days.
We need to understand deliveries are not always fixed ,during the peak hours they will try to maximize their income by pushing themselves to make as many deliveries as possible.
Some of them flout traffic rules just to be on time. The pressure to make every delivery on time sometimes leads to serious accidents.
In the last few days I witnessed quite a few bike accidents and it has been a very heart breaking and helpless sight.The long working hours and the scorching heat leads to these fatal accidents. These drivers do not have proper health insurance or accident cover. Indeed a very critical condition.
There is not much we can do but atleast treat them as humans,respect them,address them by their name and not look them just as a delivery boy.
Ordering an extra snack or juice along with your order may not pinch your pocket much but it may fill his stomach or quench his thirst.
We all can do our bit in our small way quietly.
How can we forget that they have been our life savers delivering critical items like personal hygiene supplies and groceries during the crisis.
Many of us have some delivery coming in every day.
Let us bring a small change in their lives.
Do share your ideas too.
Blessmesai 