Wheels Of Grit: How Specially Abled Women Are Redefining Delivery Jobs
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Nagpur: On any given day, if you spot a food delivery executive zipping past you on an electric bike, look closer — you might witness a quiet revolution in motion. Wearing the uniform of a leading food delivery aggregator, five women aren't just beating traffic; they're beating the odds.
Each one lives with over 80% disability. Earning a steady income of Rs25,000 a month, these women are scripting a new narrative of dignity and independence.
TOI spoke to a few specially abled women who are currently working as food delivery executives to learn about what drove them to the job. Manjusha Dhanorkar, who was widowed two years back after a long illness of her husband, wanted to take care of her two children — studying in 10th and 12th — and her mother-in-law and her husband's grandmother.
"Even before the death of my husband when he was suffering from a deadly disease, the responsibility of my family came over me. I had two options: either let my disability stop me or do something for my family. I chose the latter," said Dhanorkar.
She then started driving children to school in her e-rickshaw and used to earn around Rs15,000 per month. "Around four months back, I got the opportunity to work as a food delivery executive.
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Now I am working both jobs and earning a modest living," said Dhanorkar.
Dhanorkar was among five other women and 10 men who got to work with the food delivery aggregator after they were approached by an organisation, Youth4Job, which works for people with disabilities.
Trupti Lonare, who too has to take care of her widowed sister and a mother suffering from paralysis, said that she got a call from the organisation.
"They told me that they will be providing us training and a vehicle to make deliveries.
They told me that we have to pay Rs3,000. Earlier I was hesitant but later agreed to it and paid the money on the day of training. We were provided with vehicles and training about how to deal with customers. Since then, 15 of us, including five women, have joined the food aggregator and are earning steadily," said Lonare, adding that the job has made her financially independent.
The specially abled food delivery executives have to do orders in a 4-kilometre radius from their residence and carry out around 10 deliveries every day, earning Rs80 per delivery.
"I am a graduate and live with my old parents. I work for around 6 hours daily till the battery of my vehicle sustains. I also do sewing work side by side. This work has given me renewed dignity that I too can live with respect," said Suruchi Shahu, another food delivery executive.
The women claimed that 95% of their experience while working is good.
"When we tell customers that we are handicapped, they come down from the building and even look at us with awe and respect. What else do we need," said Shahu.
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