- 14 hours ago
In this edition of News Today, the big focus is on the grim tragedy in Indore and the gig workers nationwide strike on New Year's Eve.
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00:00Hello and welcome. You're with the news today. It's New Year's Eve and I want to wish each and every one of you a very happy 2026.
00:08But as always, the news comes first. So let's tell you what we have on this New Year's show.
00:15Seven people are dead in Indore after drinking contaminated water. Who will be held accountable?
00:21We will raise that question. Gig workers on a nationwide strike. Are e-commerce companies putting business above workers' safety?
00:33But first, as always, it's time for the nine headlines at nine on the news without the noise.
00:41Tragedy strikes Indore on the last day of 2025. At least seven people are dead.
00:47Over 150 hospitalized after allegedly consuming contaminated pipeline water.
00:54Congress demands accountability from the Madhya Pradesh government.
00:58Chief Minister Yadav assures stern action amidst cries of negligence.
01:08Zomato, Swiggy, Hype, Gig workers pay out on New Year's Eve amidst a strike on the day.
01:15Thousands of workers participate in a nationwide stir demanding a fair pay and an end to the 10-minute delivery model.
01:27A thick blanket of fog covers much of North India. Air quality plummets once again in the national capital.
01:35The meteorological department predicts similar weather conditions on the first day of 2026 as well.
01:41Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khalidaz Zia is laid to rest in Dhaka.
01:49External Affairs Minister Jay Shankar attends funeral in what is being seen as an icebreaker visit.
01:55Conveys Prime Minister Modi's condolences to his son Tariq Rahman.
01:59After Donald Trump, Beijing now wades into the Operation Sindhul Credit War.
02:08China claims it mediated to resolve India Park tensions.
02:12India rejects claim, asserts again there was no role of any third party.
02:16The Trinamul Congress vs. Election Commission of India battle heats up over the SIR exercise.
02:25TMC delegation meets the Chief Election Commissioner flags serious concerns over discrepancies.
02:32ECI asks TMC to not threaten any staff on poll duty.
02:37Allies at war ahead of elections in Tamil Nadu.
02:44Now Congress MP Karthi Chidambaram claims drugs are easily available in the state.
02:49DMK claimed Tamil Nadu is a drug-free state.
02:57DRDO successfully carries out a launch of two indigenously developed missiles in quick succession
03:03from the same launcher of the coast of Odisha.
03:10And New Year celebrations have begun.
03:13New Zealand and Australia welcome 2026.
03:16Fireworks light up the sky in Auckland and Sydney.
03:19A minute's silence is paid in the Australian city
03:22for the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
03:26India Today wishes everyone a Happy New Year.
03:29Let's start with our top story on this last news broadcast of 2025.
03:40And I'm afraid the news is grim and it's coming from the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
03:46A city which has been billed as India's cleanest city
03:50finds itself now in the midst of a major civic crisis.
03:55At least seven people have died.
03:57Hundreds are now in hospital after drinking contaminated municipal pipeline water.
04:05That's right.
04:06Making it even worse is the fact that there were warnings a week ago
04:10when several citizens complained that the water they were drinking carried a foul smell.
04:17Despite that, it appears that in an act of negligence,
04:21the administration failed to wake up to those warnings.
04:26Viewers, this is not just a story about contaminated and tainted water
04:31leading to deaths of innocent citizens.
04:34This is about a system that has failed its people.
04:39And if it can happen in a city that's billed as India's cleanest,
04:43think about the rest of the country.
04:45Our top story today comes from Indore.
04:51While much of the country is busy welcoming the new year with hope and celebration,
05:02Indore is mourning.
05:04At least seven people have lost their lives
05:06and 150 others from the Bhagirathpur area have been hospitalized over the past few days,
05:13allegedly after consuming contaminated drinking water.
05:16The residents have been complaining of a foul smell and strange taste
05:20in the municipal water supply for months now.
05:23Their warnings, they say, were ignored.
05:28Today, those ignored complaints have turned into fatalities.
05:32Anger is now simmering.
05:33Anger is now simmering.
05:51India today visited the area where the sewage line runs close to the water pipeline,
06:20and is a possible source of contamination.
06:24The administration says it has surveyed 2,703 households.
06:38Facing mounting pressure, the Mohonyadav government has acted.
06:43A zonal officer and an assistant engineer of the civic body have been suspended,
06:48and a sub-engineer sacked.
06:52The chief minister has announced 2 lakh rupee in compensation for each bereaved family.
06:58The Congress has demanded a case of culpable homicide be registered against the mayor and municipal commissioner.
07:08The party alleges, repeated pleas for clean drinking water were systematically ignored.
07:14The party alleges, repeated pleas for clean drinking water were systematically ignored.
07:28As the death toll mounds, questions grow louder.
07:34This is not just a failure of pipes and walls.
07:38How did poisoned water flow into people's homes?
07:41Who ignored the warning signs?
07:44And when will we fix accountability?
07:46With Harminder Kumar Sharma, Bureau Report, India Today.
07:50And joining me now on that shocking indoor story is Jitendra Prajapati.
07:58He is the brother of one of the girls who's lost her life because of water contamination.
08:04Jitendra Ji,
08:05Jitendra Ji,
08:35Jitendra Ji,
09:05Jitendra Ji,
09:35Jitendra Ji,
09:37Jitendra Ji,
09:39Jitendra Ji,
09:41Jitendra Ji,
09:43Jitendra Ji,
09:45Jitendra Ji,
09:47Jitendra Ji,
09:49Jitendra Ji,
09:51Jitendra Ji,
09:53Jitendra Ji,
09:55Jitendra Ji,
09:57Jitendra Ji,
09:59Jitendra Ji,
10:01Jitendra Ji,
10:03Jitendra Ji,
10:05Jitendra Ji,
10:07Jitendra Ji,
10:09Jitendra Ji,
10:11Jitendra Ji,
10:13Jitendra Ji,
10:15Jitendra Ji,
10:17Jitendra Ji,
10:19Jitendra Ji,
10:21Jitendra Ji,
10:23Jitendra Ji,
10:24Jitendra Ji,
10:26Jitendra Ji,
10:28Jitendra Ji,
10:30Jitendra Ji,
10:32Jitendra Ji,
10:34Jitendra Ji,
10:36Jitendra Ji,
10:38Jitendra Ji,
10:40Jitendra Ji,
10:42Jitendra Ji,
10:44Jitendra Ji,
10:46Jitendra Ji,
10:48Jitendra Ji,
10:50Jitendra Ji,
10:52Jitendra Ji,
10:54foreign
11:04foreign
11:08foreign
11:14foreign
11:16foreign
11:22i hope someone is waking up it's not enough to give compensation but when the warnings were there
11:32why didn't the indoor administration wake up jeetendra pajapati for joining me on the show
11:38thank you very much okay i want to turn to another of our top stories and that comes from
11:45the nationwide strike of gig workers the thousands of delivery boys and girls across
11:52the country who drive the e-commerce economy many of them chose to join the strike although
11:59there was a mixed response across the country because they believe that they are being thoroughly
12:05exploited by the e-commerce platforms they claim that 10 minute delivery deadlines are leading to
12:13fears over safety and they are not even guaranteed regular payments take a look at one of the more
12:20exploited sectors of our expanding economy the gig workers and why they chose to go on another strike
12:29the mood is celebratory across the country a new year is around the corner bringing new hopes
12:39dreams and ambitions but for some there's no pause no celebration only survival
12:46as india steps into 2026 gig workers the invisible backbone of our comfort are on the streets the
12:57very hands that bring food to our doors groceries to our homes parcels to our offices are observing a
13:03day-long nationwide strike delivery partners from platforms like blink it swiggy zomato zeto and amazon
13:12are protesting across cities the demands are simple yet unmet an end to exploitation reasonable working
13:21hours an end to the dangerous 10-minute delivery race fair wages and basic social security
13:27in delhi gig workers say they're being pushed to their physical limits forced to change their
13:45In Delhi, gig workers say they're being pushed to their physical limits, forced to choose between speed and safety.
14:15Hyderabad is witnessing similar scenes with thousands taking to the streets.
14:45But this is an unorganized workforce. Many were unaware of the strike and continued working.
14:58The gig workers in Mumbai who were said to be on a strike are very much working.
15:04And 31st December is a time when a lot of people order online.
15:08So people are here, bikes are gathered, different application workers.
15:13There have been problems on their working conditions, their payments and the delivery which they have to make, which compromises their safety.
15:21But it seems that the unions are still yet to organize and call for the rights and policies for a better living of these workers.
15:33Others knew about the protest yet stayed on the job.
15:36Not because the problems don't exist, but because hunger cannot be put on hold.
15:41AP MP Raghav Chadda, who raised the problems of gig workers in parliament, says it's about time their cries are heard.
15:4912-14 hours daily shifts, whether it's cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, fog, pollution, traffic,
15:58these people are working without any protective gear, without special bonuses, without thousands of alliances.
16:04And they are working on their work in the factory.
16:07It's better than they are not getting permanent employment, not human working conditions, not health accident insurance.
16:14To blunt the impact of the nationwide strike, platforms like Zomato and Swiggy are offering higher incentives for deliveries today.
16:30Will those who power India's convenience finally be heard?
16:34Or is their fight for dignity only beginning?
16:37Only time will tell.
16:38With Anagar from Chennai, Mustafa from Mumbai, Bureau Report, India Today.
16:44Okay, the second gig workers strike inside a week.
16:48Let's raise the big questions.
16:50Are e-commerce companies putting business above workers' safety?
16:55Are gig workers being exploited?
16:58Joining me now, Sheikh Salahuddin, National General Secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers.
17:05Joined me from Hyderabad and Nishant Gora, co-founder Grab.in, India's leading last mile logistics company.
17:12I want to come to you, Sheikh Salahuddin, first.
17:15Because this is your second strike inside a week.
17:20What do you really want?
17:22What is your biggest demand?
17:25Do you think anything will change because of these strikes?
17:31Yeah.
17:36Yeah.
17:36Yeah.
17:37Badla na, sir.
17:37Badla ho, dèkhe na.
17:39Agarja, aap kalsay dèkhenge, lagataar sare aggregator platform companies, aapne harkat pe a a gai na.
17:47Jo delivery boy ko pahle 10 rupiah, 15 rupiah, 20 rupiah se badeke ne dite thay.
17:53Aapne is offer ke khatir 125 rupiah se 1500 rupiah tuk each order pe aapne laga dia na.
18:01Aapne sate sate aapne bade bade hero school, hero in school utar diya, ad pe.
18:07Duh dhin zomato platform pe karne se 6,000 rupiah dite bol ke aapne offer laga dia.
18:12Aapne sate sare chiese harki to hai, ye to success hai.
18:16Magar ye hi bol re re, kye hum regular dhe na chahiye.
18:18Ye, haum bol re, lagataar 25 rupiah sate sate boltev ve aai.
18:23yes
18:47foreign
18:49I
18:51don't
18:53know
18:55I
18:57don't
18:59know
19:01I
19:03don't
19:05know
19:07I
19:09don't
19:11know
19:13I
19:19don't
19:21know
19:23I
19:25don't
19:27know
19:29I
19:31don't
19:33know
19:35I
19:37don't
19:39know
19:41I
19:43don't
19:45know
19:47I
19:49don't
19:51know
19:53I
19:55don't
19:57know
19:59good
20:01point
20:02very
20:03good point
20:05Salahuddin
20:07it's a
20:09it's a very good point you are making why did they wake up only when the gig workers decided to go on strike Nishan Vora you want to respond to that because the fact is Mr. Vora the truth of the matter is that there is a very coercive exploitative system going on here these gig workers don't have any real protection you exploit
20:27or many of the companies expect or many of the companies expect them within 10 minutes to deliver there is no consistency in their payments this is an entirely a very large sector that is being exploited what is really going to change I hope in 2026.
20:47Yeah thanks Ajit so to begin with exploitation or I would first answer the question about incentives rolled out just today so having said that this is a standard practice of having incentives on 31st and it is all based on demand and supply if the number of riders required are less than the requirement the demand so yes the incentives go higher in fact sir would also be knowing about the fact that a lot of times the incentive comes in the evening itself like 6
21:176 o'clock we roll out incentives and not this is across I'm talking about all platforms across this is all based on algorithm that when the requirement is there they push for incentive number two exploitation or you know the pressure of delivering in 10 minutes it's 10 minutes is actually it's taken in the wrong context it's more of a marketing ploy no platform delivers in 10 minutes not even 90% of their orders are delivered in 10 minutes it's everything is based on a time motion study so
21:44No but Mr. Vora you are telling me that the 10 minute 12 minute delivery time is a marketing ploy but the gig worker is trapped if tomorrow the gig worker doesn't deliver within a sufficient time he gets hit by the person who's ordered the delivery and the pressure builds on him you need to create conditions for the safety of gig workers surely
22:11So sir there is no security so there is no penalty or fine for not delivering within the anticipated time given to the rider there is no no I don't I myself don't know any platform putting such fines on the rider yes if there's a consistent pattern of missing deadlines and that deadline is also based on the map the time given by the distance how much travel time is there basis that the time is taken so
22:41So if there there is a case where a lot of these are missed then definitely there is action taken but it's not that one delivery you delay or something like this and there is action taken and that is across all platform nowhere this happens
22:53So I would disregard that but what is the guarantee what is the financial security they have paltry take home earnings they have to pay for the fuel expenses at times EMIs are there for their vehicles
23:10I mean are we saying that simply because these large companies these large platform based apps that are providing this delivery have a in some cases almost a monopoly over the market the gig worker at the bottom of the chain is not benefiting from this expanding sector
23:27Sir I would I would say it the other way right now the most priced asset is a gig rider there is actually more demand than supply of riders you go to any platform right now there is more demand than supply and on the other side riders are not available so you'll have each platform trying to poach the other platform riders so if you will say the payout the payout on basis of
23:52What is the revenue generated what is the revenue generated from the orders and what they are getting paid is actually quite absurd it's quite a big number and it is going to remain this way because there is a deficiency of riders so I if you ask me there is no
24:08what what is what is right let me let me let me ask Mr. Salahuddin Mr. Salahuddin Mr. Salahuddin
24:16कितना मिलता है यहां निशान बोरा कह रहे हैं कि डिमांड ज्यादा है सप्लाइ कम है उनका कहना है कि अच्छे पैसे मिलते हैं कितने मिलते हैं
24:27average gig worker जो delivery करता है उसको महीने में कितने मिलते हैं
24:32सर सिंपुल बात कल से जो एड चला रहे सिगी हो जमैटो हो या ब्लिंकिट हो जेप्टो हो सीधा आपके तो उनसे मैं सवाल रखना चाहरूं जो आपके एड अफिशल चला है
24:50साथ हजार रुपिया एक महने के अंदर आप कमा सकते मैं आप लिखके दे दो अभी श्ट्राइक कॉल आफ करूंगा यह जुम्मेदारी लिलो हम यही मांग कर रहें
24:59जो आप अड्स बता रहें जो आप ग्यारंटी बुलके बिजिनस दे पाते बोलके हम आप बतार है आज़ देखें जो बच्चों को इस के अंदर ढहिकल रहें आज बतार
25:10I am not fulfilled, it is not fulfilled.
25:11Even if it is fulfilled, if it is a delivery of health delivery,
25:16it is a $6,000 to come out,
25:18the problem is not.
25:19You said, just like you said,
25:20you can design the algorithm.
25:23If I am not in incentive,
25:25if I am not in incentive,
25:27I will get a right to leave,
25:29I will stop my algorithm,
25:31I will not stop incentive,
25:32and I will ask you,
25:34this is our basic demands.
25:39First of all, how much payout did you? When all companies were required to pay 80, 60, 40, 20, now you have 8, 9, 10, 10. Now you have another demand.
25:57Second of all, how much payout did you?
26:27Second of all, how much payout did you?
26:57I would define it in the other way.
27:04The point is, is a structure going to be created? I think my final question really is that will there be a structure created to ensure uniform standards or not?
27:22This is already in play because the beauty is the government has identified or given status to a gig worker just a couple of months back. And they are looking at having policies around it. And so yes, there is a structure coming in and it is needed. It is absolutely needed. I understand the grievances sir was talking about. One thing is, yes, there is a bad stigma because a lot of these companies that come in, initially they give absolutely absurd amount of money.
27:52They roll down or roll down their incentives which makes it difficult for anyone to sustain. That is not a correct play. But few bad apples does not mean the industry is bad.
28:01And yeah, you will have systems coming in place for the other things.
28:08So let me leave it there. A few bad apples you are saying does not mean the industry is bad. Yes, gig workers is a huge opportunity for many to get employment. But the employment cannot be exploitative.
28:20It cannot be based on a method that ends up treating these gig workers simply as sweat labor. That's the challenge before many of our platform-based delivery apps. I appreciate my guests joining me here on a day when several gig workers across India did join the strike. Thank you so much.
28:43Thank you. Thank you.
31:01We had to sleep at night and sleep at night, so we had to sleep at night, so we had to sleep at night.
31:11How many years have you been living here?
31:13How many years have you been living here?
31:1514-15 years.
31:17Where are you from?
31:19From Muradabad.
31:21What have you been doing here?
31:23We have been working a long time.
31:25You have been working a long time?
31:26Yes, a long time.
31:27Where have you been living here?
31:29Where have you been living here?
31:31Where have you been living here?
31:32Yes.
31:33There was no problem?
31:34There was no problem.
31:36And then there was no problem here?
31:38No, no.
31:41Those staying in night shelters say that they are provided basic facilities of a meal and access to toilets.
31:48But for many others, the reality remains uncertain.
31:51Some say there simply isn't enough space for everyone while others choose to stay away,
31:57meaning that they do not feel safe or comfortable inside these shelters.
32:04Why are you sleeping here?
32:05Why are you sleeping here?
32:06You are sleeping here.
32:07How many years old are you?
32:10How many times?
32:11At the Pursar?
32:13You are not in the Pursar?
32:14When you are living here, there aren't you going to sleep?
32:15In the Pursar there, there's nothing to sleep.
32:17There's nothing to sleep.
32:18That's not a good sleep.
32:20We have to sleep.
32:21It's a bad sleep.
32:22If you have to sleep.
32:23What is the problem that you come to sleep here?
32:24For the sleep you have to sleep?
32:27As one moves through the streets of Delhi,
32:52it becomes clear that for some families, homelessness is not new.
32:56Generations have grown up without ever knowing the safety of a roof over their heads,
33:02the streets becoming their only home.
33:26They help us.
33:28They give food and rice, they give food and rice.
33:33Do you have any conversation with the government?
33:35What will the government do?
33:37What will they do?
33:38Where is the government?
33:39Where is the government going to live?
33:41There is a government going to live,
33:43but there is no rice or rice to eat.
33:47That is the difference that we are bringing to you today.
33:53While we do sit in the warmth of our homes, this is the situation, this is the reality
33:58of the pavements of the streets of Delhi and how harsh its realities are even on a cold
34:05winter night like this.
34:07This is Sriya Kundu reporting for India today with camera person Sanjay Kumar.
34:12So do spare a thought for those who are living in night shelters this New Year's Eve.
34:19But let me leave you with a more poignant image of 2025.
34:24It's not quite New Year's yet and it's not quite 2026 here in India, but in several parts
34:31of the world, they're already ushering in 2026.
34:35In New Zealand, in Auckland, much celebration over the beginning of a new year.
34:40But the images coming from Sydney are very different.
34:44Remember after that tragic terror attack at Bondi Beach, a moment of silence was observed
34:51for the attack victims before the New Year's display.
34:56It's a reminder of the fragility of life.
34:59It's a reminder to live in the moment, to celebrate all the joys and also to participate
35:05in the sorrows.
35:07What can one say?
35:09All one can say is, on behalf of the entire team at India today, we hope you have plenty
35:16of happiness and lots of good health in the new year and yes, we will continue to bring
35:23you all the stories that matter and the news without the noise.
35:29Thanks for watching.
35:31Stay well.
35:32Stay safe.
35:33Jay Hind, once again, a happy new year.
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