'Slavery-like situations': Women gig workers rally against algorithmic control

By A Representative
Scores of women service partners affiliated with the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) gathered outside Urban Company’s Jaipur regional office today to protest what they described as exploitative working conditions and discriminatory algorithmic practices. The demonstration, led by India’s first women-led gig workers' organization, culminated in the submission of a formal memorandum of demands addressed to the company’s senior management and CEO.
The union’s grievances center on "forced labor elements" integrated into the platform's digital infrastructure. A primary point of contention is the non-binding 45-minute service time limit, which workers claim frequently leads to unjust account discontinuations after 24 to 27 cumulative hours of service. Protesters also called for the immediate abolition of the "banded batching" system, which they argue places an unfair and inflexible burden on partners who require more autonomy over their schedules.
Labor leaders at the site highlighted a lack of transparency in how the platform manages its workforce behind the scenes. The memorandum outlines 13 specific demands, including an end to mandatory ratings used to facilitate hidden biases and a halt to the practice of deducting advance credits based on worker scores. Union members are also seeking a policy change that would require the company to provide formal advance notice and specific justifications before any worker’s account is deactivated.
Beyond operational hurdles, the GIPSWU is pushing for significant social and financial reforms. The union has asked for a reduction in mandatory product ratings, the cessation of unannounced home visits for credit deductions exceeding seven kilometers, and a more equitable service fee structure. Crucially, the demands include the implementation of transparent accident insurance policies and the introduction of formal emergency maternity leave—a benefit currently absent for the platform's predominantly female workforce.
GIPSWU President Seema Singh, who signed the memorandum, emphasized that the action is a pursuit of justice and sustainable industrial relations within the gig economy. While management representatives reportedly engaged in online discussions with union leaders throughout the day, the union confirmed that no written commitments or formal responses have been issued by the company. National Coordinator Nirmal Gorana stated that the campaign will continue until the platform provides tangible assurances to protect the rights and dignity of its essential service partners.

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

From ancient wisdom to modern nationhood: The Indian story

By Syed Osman Sher South of the Himalayas lies a triangular stretch of land, spreading about 2,000 miles in each direction—a world of rare magic. It has fired the imagination of wanderers, settlers, raiders, traders, conquerors, and colonizers. They entered this country bringing with them new ethnicities, cultures, customs, religions, and languages.

Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov, the artist who survived Stalin's cultural purges

By Harsh Thakor* Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov (September 14, 1885 – April 20, 1964) was a Soviet artist, professor, academician, and teacher. His work was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize, the highest artistic honour of the USSR. His paintings traced the development of socialist realism in the visual arts while retaining qualities drawn from impressionism. Gerasimov reconciled a lyrical approach to nature with the demands of Soviet socialist ideology.

Public money, private profits: Crop insurance scheme as goldmine for corporates

By Vikas Meshram The farmer in India is not merely a food provider; he is the soul of the nation. For centuries, enduring natural calamities and bearing debt generation after generation while remaining loyal to the soil, this community now finds itself trapped in a different kind of crisis. In February 2016, the Modi government launched the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) with the stated objective of freeing farmers from the shackles of debt. It was an ambitious attempt to provide a strong safety net to cultivators repeatedly devastated by excessive rainfall, drought, and hailstorms.

'Policy long overdue': Coalition of 29 experts tells JP Nadda to act on SC warning label order

By A Representative In a significant development for public health, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to seriously consider implementing mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on pre-packaged food products. The order, passed by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan on February 10, 2026, comes as the Court expressed dissatisfaction with the regulatory body's progress on the issue.

Unpaid overtime, broken promises: Indian Oil workers strike in Panipat

By Rosamma Thomas Thousands of workers at the Indian Oil Corporation refinery in Panipat, Haryana, went on strike beginning February 23, 2026. They faced a police lathi charge, and the Central Industrial Security Force fired into the air to control the crowd.

From non-alignment to strategic partnership: India's ideological shift toward Israel

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* India's historical foreign policy maintained a notable duality: offering sanctuary to persecuted Jewish communities dating back centuries, while simultaneously supporting Palestinian self-determination as an expression of its broader anti-colonial foreign policy commitments. The gradual shift in Indian foreign policy under Hindutva-aligned governance — moving toward a strategic partnership with Israel while reducing substantive engagement with the Palestinian cause — raises legitimate questions about ideological motivation and geopolitical consequence.

Development vs community: New coal politics and old conflicts in Madhya Pradesh

By Deepmala Patel* The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, often described as “India’s energy capital,” has for decades been a hub of coal mining and thermal power generation. Today, the Dhirouli coal mine project in this district has triggered widespread protests among local communities. In recent years, the project has generated intense controversy, public opposition, and significant legal and social questions. This is not merely a dispute over one mine; it raises a larger question—who pays the price for energy development? Large corporate beneficiaries or the survival of local communities?

Search This Blog