Appreciate Swiggy’s ambulance initiative but provide free treatment for injured employees: TGPWU

Shaik Salauddin, the president of TGPWU, said, “I really appreciate their interest to start ambulance services, but the primary focus should be to provide free treatment for its employees. Most employees do not have money for treatment.”

Citing the recent incident where a Swiggy delivery executive jumped from the third floor of a building to escape a dog died, Shaik Salauddin said, “No help was offered by Swiggy for his treatment. The youth’s family has also not been compensated after his death.”

The 23-year-old had gone to an apartment in Banjara Hills to deliver an order. When he knocked on the door of the flat, the customer’s pet dog, a German Shepherd, barked and lunged at him. He jumped from the third floor to escape the dog but sustained grievous injuries. He succumbed to his injuries at NIMS hospital.

On 16 January, Swiggy, India’s leading food ordering and delivering platform, launched an immediate and free ambulance service for all its delivery executives and their dependents in case of emergencies. Swiggy has partnered with Dial4242 ambulance services for this industry-first initiative.

What is Swiggy’s ambulance initiative?

Delivery executives can now reach out on the toll-free number 1800 267 4242. Sometimes, making a call might not be an option so the delivery executives can just tap the SOS button without leaving the partner app in case of an emergency before, during, or after a delivery. The process will require no documentation. Delivery executives only need to confirm their partner ID.

Swiggy launched this service pan-India after piloting the service in Bangalore, Delhi, NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata. In the test runs and the cases raised so far, the service’s response time has been an average of 12 minutes. Dial4242 can dispatch different ambulances such as BLS (Basic Life Support) ambulances, cardiac ambulances, ALS (Advanced Life Support), inter-state ambulances, Covid-19 ambulances, and hearse vans based on the severity of the case.

The service is free for all active delivery executives and their dependents (spouses and two children) who are covered under the insurance provided by Swiggy. Delivery executives can also choose to avail of the ambulance service for family members not covered under their insurance at a subsidised cost.

Mihir Rajesh Shah, Swiggy’s head of operations, said, “Swiggy is committed to the safety of our delivery executives, and over the years, we have been investing in products and policies that prioritise their safety and well-being. Every day, lakhs of deliveries are carried on smoothly by our delivery executives. However, emergencies have a way of coming unannounced. With the free ambulance service that is fast, on-demand, and comprehensive, Swiggy has got our executives’ backs, giving them safety and peace of mind and getting them help when they need it the most.”