LPG cylinder delivery boys complain that they are paid a measly sum and are unable to make ends meet without tips from the consumers. Dushyant, a LPG delivery boy, said he is paid Rs. 5.75 for delivering each cylinder. “I manage to deliver between 30 and 32 cylinders per day and make not more than Rs. 180,” he said.
“Some consumers pay me Rs. 10 as a tip … a few pay Rs. 20 or Rs. 30. A few generous ones pay as much as Rs. 50. Without tips, we will not be able to make a decent living,” Mr. Dushyant said.
But, Mehul Patel, who runs a LPG distribution agency, said each delivery boy is paid between Rs. 7 and Rs. 14 for delivering each cylinder. Though the oil companies pay Rs. 16 for delivering cylinders, the sum paid for delivery of each cylinder is worked out after deducting the cost incurred on transportation.
He agreed that the delivery boys will make much more from tips than what they receive from the distributor. Criticising the delivery boys for demanding hefty tips, Mr. Patel said that consumers are free to lodge complaints with the distributors. However, he said that his agency, with about 25 to 28 delivery boys, delivers about 800 cylinders a day, but receives not more than one or two complaints a week.
Most distributors take complaints lodged by the consumers seriously. “We make the delivery boy return the excess amount collected and write an apology note,” he said.
However, he added that most delivery boys are good natured and not a single case of robbery or violence has been reported against them. Indian Oil Corporation’s LPG Area Manager in Mysuru, V.U. Baby, told The Hindu that the oil companies have no control over the payment distributors make to the delivery boys.
‘Shift to a different distributor’
Mr. Baby has urged consumers to use the option of changing their Indane Gas distributor if they are not satisfied with the quality of service. He said there are a total of 30 Indane Gas agencies in Mysuru and many more are coming up. “If consumers are forced to pay more for delivery of their cylinders (if their houses are far), they should consider shifting to a distributor closer to their residence. It is free and requires minimal paperwork”, he said.
Mysore Grahakara Parishat, which has also taken a serious note of the demand for hefty tips, said the consumers can also lodge complaints on the websites of the three public sector oil companies or the respective area managers if distributors fail to act.
