Numerous talks have been done for health workers, police, shop keepers, service providers yet an untouched aspect of LPG delivery men goes unappreciated and unacknowledged. Amid the lockdown, petroleum consumption has been reduced leading to the least pollution. At the same time, Oil demand of the world’s third-biggest the consumer has collapsed by as much as 70 percent as India endures the planet’s largest national lockdown, according to officials at the country’s refiners.Petrol and diesel sales fell over 60%, and jet fuel demand almost disappeared in the first half of April because of the lockdown, but cooking gas sales rose 12% However, demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), mainly used for cooking in the country, rose an annual 12% in the first two weeks of April because of new customers, panic buying, and the government’s offer of free refills to the poor under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package.
Plus, with the raised demand of LPG cylinders during this pandemic, the services of the delivery men, who constantly have been risking their lives to ensure undisturbed supply, go unacknowledged. Each distributor has a minimum of 10 employees, although distributorships have provided their delivery boys with masks, gloves, and sanitizers, fearing the coronavirus spread in the air, but the question is it is enough? There is no change in SOP’s. Even today distributor has to get a refill voucher signed, Enter the log in DGCC, take cash. All these are mere formalities.
All over the nation thousands of delivery boys come to work, leaving behind their families, to work efficiently and serve the nation with undisturbed supply. But there are no rules or guidelines for their safety. No medical screening is being done. Each delivery boy goes to approximately 40 houses a day, which raises the level of risk to their lives, as they can be the potential carrier of coronavirus, God forbid if they come in contact with any COVID-19 positive victim.
People are needlessly worried if the cylinders would be available in the coming days so, trying to stock up, which has raised the daily bookings to each distributor. Despite this sudden increase in demand and added workload under due to Free Refills to PMUY customers under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna, but even then, they’re doing it effectively.
There is a dire need to issue some guidelines for all the companies to ensure the safety and well-being of the delivery men by the government. These too are unsung warriors, who worked despite odds and amid pandemic, crises to serve better. These PSU and their distributors have shout mouth of all who were previously planning to sell and privatize these efficient PSU’s and their network.