Coronavirus Lockdown: Change In E-Commerce Rules Again, Only Essentials To Be Delivered. Here's Why

The supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain banned during the lockdown period, the Home Ministry said today, days after permitting the online sale of goods like mobile phones, refrigerators, clothes, television sets and laptops.

The order also clarified that e-commerce companies supplying essential goods would continue to be exempted from lockdown restrictions. However, operation of vehicles delivering these goods will be subject to clearance by the administration of the states and union territories.

Last week the government had included the sale of some non-essential goods, through e-commerce platforms, on a list of activities and services to be allowed from April 20 in areas least affected by the coronavirus outbreak, a decision that invited criticism from the Confederation of Indian Traders (CAIT).

"More than 40 lakh traders are supplying essential goods since lockdown came into effect. Side-lining and ignoring them, e-commerce companies have been allowed to deliver non-essential goods from April 20," Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT Secretary-General, told news agency ANI.

"When the lockdown was announced these e-commerce companies suspended operations. We want to know today what is the necessity for which they have been given permission. We have no objection if they are given permission to provide essential services, but why non-essential goods," he asked.

CAIT subsequently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene in this matter.

#IndiaFightsCorona
Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies to remain prohibited during #Lockdown2 to fight #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/6Jdvuzw6VJ

— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 19, 2020

On Saturday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led a meeting to discuss re-starting select economic activities and services in non-containment zones after April 20 to boost the faltering economy.

After the meeting the government released a list of activities and services that will be functional from April 20 in parts of the country least affected by the coronavirus outbreak; these activities and services will not be allowed in coronavirus hotspots, the government cautioned.

Guidelines on re-opening some sectors and allowing some activities - in non-COVID-19 hotspot districts - came after Prime Minister Modi extended the lockdown to May 3. The decision came after a video meet with 13 chief ministers who pointed to the lockdown's impact on the economy.

Although the lockdown has been credited with saving lakhs of lives - the centre has claimed 8.2 lakh could have been infected otherwise - it has also hit the economy hard; the IMF has said it expects the economy to grow by only 1.9 per cent this year.

With input from ANI