Table of Contents
Relevance: TGPSC Telangana Economy
Prelims
Project PRAGATI | Gig Workers | Platform Workers | Zepto | Telangana Government | Hyderabad | e-Shram Portal | HeatWatch Survey 2024
Mains
Gig Economy | Worker Welfare | Urban Infrastructure | Social Security | Public-Private Partnership | Inclusive Urbanisation
Why in News?
The Telangana Government and quick-commerce company Zepto have signed an MoU to establish five Project PRAGATI Centres across Hyderabad. These centres aim to provide basic facilities to gig and platform workers engaged in quick commerce, food delivery, e-commerce and other last-mile delivery services.
Background
- Gig and platform workers have become an important part of Hyderabad’s urban economy. They support quick commerce, food delivery, e-commerce, apparel delivery and last-mile logistics. However, unlike regular office workers, they spend most of their working hours on roads and do not have fixed workplaces.
- This creates daily difficulties for them. Many workers do not have access to clean washrooms, shaded resting areas, drinking water or mobile charging facilities during work hours.
- A 2024 HeatWatch survey of 166 gig and platform workers in Hyderabad found that nearly 69% of workers did not have access to clean washrooms. More than 80% lacked shaded resting areas or cooling facilities. This shows the need for worker-friendly urban infrastructure.
What are Project PRAGATI Centres?
- Project PRAGATI Centres are proposed resting and support spaces for gig and platform workers in Hyderabad. The centres will be useful for workers from quick commerce, food delivery, e-commerce, apparel delivery and other last-mile delivery networks.
- The locations of these centres will be jointly identified by the Telangana Government and Zepto. Zepto will fund and maintain the centres on an ongoing basis. Each centre is expected to receive hundreds of worker visits depending on its location.
What is the Gig Economy?
Types of Gig WorkersGig workers can be broadly divided into two categories.
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Facilities at the Centres
Each PRAGATI Centre will provide basic facilities required by gig workers during their working day.
The proposed facilities include:
- All-weather resting space
- Drinking water
- Washroom facilities
- First-aid support
- Mobile charging points
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Periodic health camps
- Awareness on e-Shram registration
These facilities can improve the comfort, health and safety of workers who spend long hours outdoors.
Conclusion
Project PRAGATI is a useful regional initiative to support gig and platform workers in Hyderabad. It addresses basic infrastructure gaps faced by workers who are essential to the city’s digital and service economy. The initiative also reflects the need to make the gig economy more humane and inclusive. In the long run, such measures should become part of a broader social security framework for gig workers, ensuring dignity, safety and inclusive urban development.
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding gig workers and Project PRAGATI Centres:
- The Code on Social Security, 2020 recognises gig workers as persons working outside the traditional employer-employee relationship.
- Project PRAGATI Centres are proposed for gig and platform workers in Hyderabad.
- Zepto will fund and maintain the PRAGATI Centres.
- Gig workers are only permanent employees of government departments.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Statement-wise Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Code on Social Security, 2020 defines gig workers as persons working outside the traditional employer-employee relationship.
Statement 2 is correct: Project PRAGATI Centres are proposed for gig and platform workers in Hyderabad.
Statement 3 is correct: Zepto will fund and maintain the centres on an ongoing basis.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Gig workers are not permanent government employees. They usually work through flexible, task-based arrangements.
FAQs
1. What is the gig economy?
The gig economy refers to short-term, flexible and task-based work, often arranged through digital platforms.
2. Who is a gig worker?
A gig worker is a person who earns through work outside the traditional employer-employee relationship.
3. What is Project PRAGATI?
Project PRAGATI is an initiative to establish resting and support spaces for gig and platform workers in Hyderabad.
4. Who will fund Project PRAGATI Centres?
Zepto will fund and maintain the centres on an ongoing basis.
5. Why are PRAGATI Centres important?
They provide basic facilities such as rest space, drinking water, washrooms, first aid, charging points and Wi-Fi to gig workers.
