E-commerce platforms not to sell non-essential items

NEW DELHI :

THE Government on Sunday prohibited e-commerce platforms from selling non-essential items during the lockdown, four days after allowing the companies to sell mobile phones, refrigerators and ready-made garments. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued an order excluding the non-essential items from the cart of e-commerce companies. The order said the following clause -- “E-commerce companies: Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be allowed to ply with necessary permissions” -- is excluded from the guidelines.

The April 15 order had said e-commerce platforms were allowed to sell such items from April 20. The reason for reversing the order is not known immediately. But there was a talk of some retail traders mounting pressure on the Government that local shops be also allowed to sell non-essentials items, like e-commerce giants. E-commerce platforms are allowed to sell essential commodities such as food, pharmaceutical and medical devices. The previous order said, “Supply of essential goods is allowed, as under: All facilities in the supply chain of essential goods, whether involved in manufacturing, wholesale or retail of such goods through local stores, large brick and mortar stores or e-Commerce companies should be allowed to operate, ensuring strict social distancing without any restriction on their timing of opening and closure”.

A day later, Home Ministry officials said electronic items like mobile phones, TVs, refrigerators, laptop computers, ready-made garments, stationery items for school children would be available on the e-commerce platforms from April 20. Following that directive, a few e-commerce companies stated accepting online orders. The Government also allowed movement of all trucks and other goods vehicles with two drivers and one helper, subject to the driver carrying a valid driving license. An empty truck or vehicle will be allowed to ply after the delivery of goods, or for picking up goods. Truck repair shops and ‘dhabas’ (eateries) on highways, with a stipulated minimum distance as prescribed by the State and Union Territory authorities, will be allowed to operate.

Allowing non-essential items may impact lockdown; situation extremely dynamic: MHA: UNDERLINING that the lockdown situation was “extremely dynamic”, the Home Ministry on Sunday said the decision to allow non-essential goods through e-commerce was withdrawn after it was felt that the list of goods was extensive and may impact the curbs imposed to fight COVID-19. Addressing a press conference, MHA Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the situation was “extremely dynamic” and decisions are being reviewed “almost on a daily basis”. “As you realise, some restrictions are necessary in our campaign against coronavirus. When the list of non-essential goods and overall situation was reviewed, it was felt that the list was pretty extensive. If we permit all goods, it may impact lockdown. Accordingly, the decision was reviewed,” she said.

Govt releases list of economic activities to begin from today

NEW DELHI,

Apr 19 (IANS)

THE Union Home Ministry has released a new list of services and activities which are being allowed to open from Monday. One such list was tweeted by Union Law and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. This includes healthcare, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry. Prasad has said that in some cases the Government has given exemptions, and the list has been released. However, these services will not be allowed in the Containment Zones. Significantly, a meeting of the Group of Ministers headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was held on Saturday.

After the meeting it was said that any relaxation during the lockdown will be as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. But State Governments can also strictly enforce the rules on their own. The Government has exempted projects and activities related to co-operative credit societies, non-banking financial institutions, water supply, electricity and communication in rural areas.

Apart from this, the Government has also said that bamboo, coconut, betel nut, cocoa, spices cultivation, harvesting, processing, packaging, fruit and vegetable carts, shops selling sanitary items, grocery and ration shops, dairy and milk booths, poultry, Shops selling meats, fish and fodder, electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics, carpenters, couriers, DTH and cable services are allowed with certain restrictions. The e-commerce companies have been asked to start work from April 20 but will have to get necessary clearance for delivery vehicles. Data work and call centres for the Government activities, offices with IT and related services have also been approved. But the condition is that they should not have more than 50 per cent staff. Activities will also be increased on highways from Monday. Motor mechanic shops and dhabas will also open on the highway for truckers with some restrictions.

The rural area is being given huge relief. Work in brick kilns and food processing has been approved in the villages. Cold storage and warehouse service will begin. The fishing business will also be started, which will allow fish feeding, maintenance, processing, packaging, marketing and sales. Hatchery and Commercial Aquarium will also open. Work under MNREGA has also come under exemption from restrictions. Construction work on roads, irrigation, building, renewable energy and all kinds of industrial projects outside the city will also start from Monday. It has also been said that if a construction project is to be started in an urban area, the labourers should be available on site for this.