New Delhi (India): The non-essential goods supplied by the e-commerce companies will be banned till the lockdown period, said by Home Ministry today, days after the permitting the online sale of the goods like the selling of refrigerators, mobile phones, television sets, laptops, and clothes.
The order by the Home Ministry had clarified that the e-commerce companies selling the essential goods are exempted from the lockdown restrictions. However the operation of the vehicles delivering the goods will take a clearance by the administration of states and union territories.
Coronavirus Lockdown India Highlights : COVID-19
The government last week has also announced that include sale of some of the non-essential goods, through the e-commerce platforms, on a list of the services and activities which is to be allowed from April 20, mostly in the areas which are least affected by the pandemic outbreak. This decision by the Home Ministry invited criticism from Confederation of Indian Traders (CAIT).
This criticism by CAIT is because more than 40 lakh traders are supplying the essential goods since the day of lockdown announced and this came into effect. It is because the Home Ministry is side-lining them and allowing the e-commerce companies to deliver non-essential goods from April 20. The Secretary-General of CAIT, Praveen Khandelwal, told news agency ANI.
E-commerce Companies Providing Limited Services
According to Praveen Khandelwal, “When the lockdown was announced, these e-commerce were not in function. We want to know that what kind of necessities has arose for which they have been given permission. Though, we have no objection if those have been given permission to provide the essentials, but why not non-essential goods,” he asked.
The Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh led a meeting with the concerned to discuss re-starting the selected economic activities and the services in non-containment zones, to boost the economy which was flattering. After the meeting, the government released list of activities and the services will be start function from 20 April in the states and the areas which are less affected by the coronavirus hotspot and not in the areas of coronavirus hotspots, the government cautioned.
The guidelines on re-opening some of the sectors and allow activities in non-affected areas came after 2nd lockdown order from the Prime Minister till 3rd May. After video meeting with 13 Chief-Ministers pointed the impact on economy due to lock down, this decision came.
Although this lockdown is in the good favor side by the government saving lakhs of lives. The center claimed 8.2 lakh could have been infected, otherwise. This certainly hit the economy of the country hard, IMF has said to be expected economy grow by 1.9 percent this year.
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