Bhubaneswar, Jan. 7 -- From weaving through traffic-clogged streets and braving harsh weather to racing against the clock for every order, food delivery riders shoulder an intense daily workload that often goes unseen. Long hours on the road, back-to-back deliveries and the constant pressure of ratings and timelines define their routine making every completed order a test of endurance as much as efficiency.

Even as food delivery platforms make tipping easy and transparent, very few customers actually do it. Industry experts estimate that only about 3-5 percent of users on apps such as Zomato and Swiggy tip their delivery partners, making gratuities a minor part of riders' overall earnings. This is despite regular nudges during checkout a...