Summaries by Vandana Vasudevan

Delhi's “CarryMen” service highlights concerns about India's gig economy. The author argues that such low-skill convenience jobs create a “new coolie” class, reminiscent of colonial-era serfdom, offering no upskilling prospects. This model risks transforming India's demographic dividend into an army of branded attendants, perpetuating feudalistic societal norms. It fails to meet “decent work” standards, as it primarily aggregates jobless individuals for tasks that are borderline exploitative. The article criticizes this trend for normalizing servitude and questioning its value for sustainable national development.