The Flipkart delivery hub in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, receives packages from across the country. While customers are now able to access their favorite products, two Flipkart Wishmasters talk about their friendship, the supportive environment at the hub, and how they come together every day to ensure packages reach the right doorstep in time.
I am Pramod Kumar Yadav. I am 33 years old. I grew up in Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh, and moved to Shimla to study. I completed my Bachelors in Technology, and began teaching computer studies in a school. However, it was difficult for me to make ends meet.
I then started working at the horticulture department as a Data Operator, and joined Flipkart part-time as a Wishmaster. Since I experienced really good growth at Flipkart, I decided to join full-time as a Kirana Partner.
My kirana store is about 3 kilometers away from the Flipkart delivery hub. The packages arrive in a vehicle. From there, I pick them up and deliver them on foot since Shimla is a hilly region and most of the localities are not easily accessible by road.
My family consists of my father, mother, brother and sister and their respective spouses and children. While all of them live in Azamgarh, a nephew and a niece stay here with me in Shimla, since I take care of their education. I have a lot of responsibilities towards my family, and my current job allows me to fulfill them.
I deliver between 50 to 80 packages every day within a radius of 3 kilometers. It takes me about 3 to 4 hours to deliver them. When I started off as a Wishmaster, I would find it difficult to locate the right customers. Now, I just have to glance at a package and I can identify the customers and their houses. They also recognize me now.
I moved to Shimla more than 10 years ago, and I have observed many changes during my stint as a Wishmaster. People who live here are able to save a lot of time, since what they need comes straight to their houses, and they don’t have to travel to buy what they need. I also deliver packages to customers who are senior citizens. They find it difficult to navigate these hilly roads to buy their essentials, and e-commerce has played a huge role in bringing ease into their lives.
I go to church regularly, and that is where I made friends with Archana, my fellow Wishmaster at the Shimla hub. Since her route is not far away from mine, we coordinate with each other so packages get delivered quickly and efficiently.
The whole hub is very supportive of each other. At the first sign of doubt, we call the hub, and we are sure to get a solution. The Big Billion Days are very exciting for us. The number of packages increases, and so do our earnings. It is a period of celebration for customers as well as Wishmasters.
IÂ am Archana Kumari, and I am 38 years old.
I grew up in Arunachal Pradesh, and my family’s financial circumstances prevented me from studying beyond standard 12. I moved to Shimla over 15 years ago, and I loved the environment. It has been my home ever since.
I have always believed in helping others and doing social work, and found a sense of community in my church here in Shimla. This is where I met Pramod, who works in the same hub as me as a Wishmaster. I consider him my brother, and we help each other in times of need. I used to work as a caretaker to make ends meet. I suddenly lost my job earlier this year, and Pramod referred me to Flipkart as a Wishmaster. Initially, I was very skeptical about being able to deliver packages. I doubted my own capabilities, but Pramod and other members of the hub encouraged me to give it a shot.
I found it very difficult to find addresses initially. I would call my managers back at the hub, and also ask people for directions on the way. Six months in, I am easily able to find my way across the delivery routes, and deliver between 30 to 50 packages every day.
The areas I deliver to are not easy to access by road. I take a bus up to certain points, and then go further on foot. Customers are now familiar with me, and ask me about the status of their packages. Due to the hilly terrain, deliveries coming to their doorstep brings them a sense of relief.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the Big Billion Days sale at the hub – this is my very first edition.
Since I am a single mother, I pay for my son’s school, his hostel fees, and take care of my own expenses. I take time off whenever he comes home for the holidays, and my colleagues cover for me. All the members at the hub are really supportive of each other. I am determined to work well, save up and provide my son with good education for a bright future.
