New Delhi: A recent viral video brings buzz around the gig economy in India, with it featuring a bike taxi driver from Bengaluru claiming a monthly earning of ₹80,000 to ₹85,000 by working on Uber and Rapido. It was posted by Karnataka Portfolio on December 4 through a video shared by the driver of his story. According to him, this handsome remuneration is achieved after his long hours of work, a whopping 13 hours in one day.
The video soon attracted much attention, with reactions ranging from amazement to disbelief. One commenter joked, “Itna to ham nahi kamaate, bhaiya!” (Even we don’t earn that much!).
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma also joined the conversation, sharing the video and praising the opportunities created by technology-driven gig jobs in India. He called these workers “members of Indian Digital Services,” highlighting their role in building a globally admired digital ecosystem. Sharma celebrated their contributions, even quoting an optimistic Bollywood song lyric to underline his point.
India’s new-age technology firms have sparked a revolution in job creation at scale, generating crores of well-paying jobs that fuel our local economy. These colleagues are building a digital services ecosystem that the world admires—quick deliveries, local rides, and Paytm QR at… pic.twitter.com/epR7wefu9g
— Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) December 6, 2024
The video has received over 600,000 views and has attracted various online debates. It is a story of motivation for some while others may raise questions regarding the strain it might put on one’s health and personal life to be on the roads for such long hours. It also shows how digital platforms are changing the face of work opportunities in India.
Bike taxis, in particular, have become a go-to option in cities, offering convenient rides for passengers and a steady income for drivers. This shift towards gig jobs has opened doors for many, especially in urban areas where traditional jobs might be harder to find.
This story highlights how technology is transforming the job market in India, opening new ways through which people can make their living. But on the other hand, this poses questions regarding work-life balance and how difficult it will be to maintain such busy schedules. The success and hard work of this driver have certainly gotten people talking about the ups and downs of gig economy jobs in today’s digital world.
