During the three-month college break, while most students plan to rest, one second-year BBA student from Bangalore decided to do something different. After finishing his first-year exams, he took up a helmet and handlebars, becoming a 'Rapido Captain' for pocket money and extra income.
This student shared his experience on the social platform Reddit, and his story highlights the harsh reality of millions of 'gig workers' in the country.
The student recounted that he started working online daily at 8 am and finished at 4:30 pm, spending about 8.5 hours on the road. Although it was initially difficult for him to understand the app's algorithms, over time, he figured out which areas and times had the most orders. On good days, he could earn up to 1200 rupees per day.
After noon, roughly between 12 pm and 3 pm, when the number of rides decreased, he used this time to fulfill food delivery orders through Swiggy and Zomato instead of just sitting idle.
The student noted that he had the option to go home, which is not available to those who work this job full-time to support their families. He emphasized that during these 8.5 hours, he rarely took breaks, either driving a passenger or waiting for the next order. However, he always knew he would return to college after the holidays. Unlike him, people who work full-time to support their families have no option to quit or go home. Rising fuel prices, long waits, strict platform rules, and unstable earnings—this is their daily life.
The student identified the main difficulty of gig work as lack of control. He explained that if a customer cancels a ride without reason, the 'Captain' incurs losses, and their rating drops. Getting adequate help from the app in case of problems is also a serious struggle. Nevertheless, he noted that while working near Majestic and the railway station, he did not have negative experiences with any passengers.
For this BBA student, a daily income of 1200 rupees might just be pocket money for the holidays, but for salaried couriers who spend 10-12 hours a day in dust and heat, it is merely a necessity for survival. His post on Reddit has become a mirror reflecting the realities of corporate India and the gig economy.