Between Deliveries and Dreams: A Gig Worker's journey of becoming a police officer
Tracking Indian Youth Workers: Aashish Kumar
The Tracking Indian Youth Workers Media Fellowship presents the next in a series of stories capturing the lives of young workers across India.
At 23, Aashish Kumar is constantly on the move—both on the roads of Ghaziabad as a Swiggy delivery partner and in his pursuit of a career in law enforcement. While his days begin with studying for the CPO exam, his evenings are spent navigating the city, delivering food to make ends meet. Coming from a lower income family, Aashish took up this job to support his family.
“Coming from a middle-class family, balancing work and studies is a necessity. If I don’t study, I will always remain a Swiggy delivery guy. However sometimes this job gets frustrating. Our five-star ratings determine if we get a ₹2000 bonus each week. I really needed it, but yesterday, a customer gave me the wrong address, ignored my calls, and then blamed me for being late—giving me a one-star rating. Because of that, I lost my bonus. My brother’s birthday is coming up, and I wanted to get him something special. Now, I don’t know how I’ll afford it.”
Read his full story below. Profile by Paridhi Jain.
Paridhi: Can you tell me about yourself?
Aashish: My name is Aashish Kumar, and I am 23 years old. I live in Ghaziabad. Currently, I work as a Swiggy delivery partner while preparing for the CPO (Central Police Organization) exam. I have completed my graduation and have been actively working towards a career in law enforcement.
Six months ago, I appeared for the UP Police Constable exam, but due to a paper leak, the test was rescheduled. Unfortunately, in the re-exam, I fell short by just 13 marks. The exam dates were announced just 20 to 25 days prior, leaving me with limited time to prepare.
Paridhi: Can you tell me about your family?
Aashish: My family consists of six members—my parents, myself, and my two younger brothers. My father is the sole earning member and works as a security guard in Indirapuram. Since he is the only source of income for our family, I took up this delivery job to contribute financially and help ease some of the burden.
Paridhi: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Aashish: I love traveling. I've been to Kedarnath three to four times. Next week, I’m planning a trip to Nainital.
Paridhi: How did you get into this job after completing your graduation?
Aashish: I always wanted to be a police officer, but the competition is tough, and preparation requires time and effort. A friend who was already working as a Swiggy delivery partner introduced me to this job. I realized that it was a great way to earn money without affecting my preparation, so I registered and started working.
Aashish Kumar (face concealed upon request).
Paridhi: What does a day in your life look like?
Aashish: I wake up around 6-7 AM and start my day by visiting the mandir. After that, I dedicate most of my time to studying from 8 AM to 5 PM, with short breaks in between to refresh my mind. In the evening, around 7 PM, I begin my delivery job. Earlier, this was my full-time work, but now I do it part-time so I can focus more on my studies.
Paridhi: How do you manage work and study together?
Aashish: Coming from a middle-class family, balancing both is a necessity. If I don’t study, I will always remain a Swiggy delivery guy. I stay motivated because I know that hard work is the only way to change my future.
Paridhi: Did you always want to become a police officer?
Aashish: Yes! It has been my childhood dream to become a police officer in Delhi or UP. I do delivery work to support my education financially so that I don’t have to rely on my parents.I have seen my father working multiple jobs and my mother taking up house help work just to make sure I get an education. Now, I just want to give them a life where they don’t have to worry about anything anymore.
Paridhi: What do you like most about your job? And what do you hate the most?
Aashish: Every week, our five star ratings decide if we get an extra ₹2000 bonus. I really needed that bonus this week. But yesterday, this lady gave me the wrong address and I kept calling her, but she didn’t pick up. And when she finally did, she just yelled at me, saying I was late and gave me a one star rating. Because of that, I lost ₹2000 bonus. It wasn’t even my fault, but there’s nothing I can do.
My brother’s birthday is next, and I wanted to get him something special. Now, I don’t know how I’ll get my brother’s gift. Sometimes, this job gets frustrating and I feel like quitting to focus entirely on my studies. But due to my family's financial situation, I don’t have that option. I just need to do it for 2 or 3 years more, until I secure a stable job.
However, the one thing I like about it is the flexibility—it allows me to manage my studies along with earning money. It's like I am my own boss, I can log in and out whenever I want.
Paridhi: What do you feel about youth employment opportunities?
Aashish: Unemployment exists, but many people just blame the government without working hard. No government is perfect, but if you put in the effort, you will find opportunities. There’s always an opportunity waiting, you just have to grab it before someone else does. However, I think there should be more awareness about skill-based jobs and alternative career paths. Many young people struggle because they only focus on traditional jobs without exploring other opportunities.
This is an ongoing series of profiles documenting the experiences of young people across India. Stay tuned for more stories from young workers across India. Follow us on social media for more updates.