#Coronavirus: Karnataka Allows 24*7 Grocery, Govt Orders Seamless Ecommerce Delivery
On March 23, PM Modi announced nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the virus for a period of 21 days. At the same time stating all the essential services will be available to the public.
The announcement of lockdown created a panic amongst the citizens and the grocery stores saw enormous crowding. To counter this situation, the Indian central government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has directed states to set up a standard operating protocol to ensure clear movement of essential goods and services.
According to reports, the Gurugram district administration has also allowed home delivery of essential goods by online delivery apps.
Read to find out more…
MHA Issues Undisrupted Movement of Essential Goods and Services!
States and Union Territories of the country have to make sure there is continuity of supply chains, even if it requires inter-state movement during COVID-19 lockdown.
The notice issued by the MHA highlighted that consumer-facing e-commerce, wholesalers, third-party delivery or logistics partners fall under the essential goods supply and logistic chain ecosystem. Hence they were spared from any prohibitory orders. It also directed for the provision of vehicular passes/e-passes to ease the movement of goods across state borders.
The notice also requires the state governments to set up a 24*7 Control Room/Office with helplines at the state/district level and appoint a Nodal Officer to address any grievance or undue problem faced by Goods/Services providers during the 21 days lockdown period.
Currently Grofers, BigBasket, Amazon, Flipkart among many others aren’t servicing customers due to high demand and action from the police on the delivery executives. The notice from MHA comes at a time when grocery and food delivery platforms are not able to deliver because of local administration’s dominance.
The MHA notice provides a clear picture to the local authorities and offers confidence to the e-commerce platforms. The role of online companies is going to be a turning point in the successful lockdown across the country.
This action by the Indian government replicates the China leveraged e-commerce to ensure the supply of grocery, vegetables, medicines, meat, and others during its several months lockdown.
Gurugram Allows Online Delivery Service, Karnataka Govt. Allows Grocery Stores to Operate 24*7!
Gurugram Police Commissioner Mohammad Akil said that online delivery platforms like Zomato, Flipkart, Amazon, Bluedart, Wow Express, Swiggy, Grofers, Bigbasket, Milk Basket, Dunzo, Big Bazaar, and Iffco Tokio will be allowed to continue delivery services.
Akil assured that the delivery boys of these platforms will be allowed at checkposts of Gurugram police. He said, “They have to carry original identity cards. The operators can also apply for passes with the food and civil supply department. They should maintain names of delivery boys and online passes will be issued for them.”
In addition he said, “In a time of global crisis, the residents of Gurugram are responding well and acknowledging the efforts of Corona fighters including medical staff, police personnel, media personnel and operators involved in supplying essential services.”
Meanwhile, DGP Karnataka took to Twitter to announce that the grocery stores and supermarkets will be functional 24*7.
Gurugram Condominiums to Have Temporary Kirana Stores Set Up!
Additionally, Vinay Pratap Singh, Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) said: “We have decided to supply food in colonies, sectors and condominiums and hence contacted respective Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) to provide details about grocery shops. If any condominiums do not have kirana shops, they can provide covered space to us and we will provide raw food for them.” Singh also provided an email ID: [email protected] – where RWAs can share details.
Meanwhile, many condominiums have completely locked down their premises and are not allowing anyone to enter the premises. They have placed chains on the main entrance and completely barred outsiders.
The upscale Beverly Park RWA resident and member, Henry said, “We are allowing delivery boys inside but they are directed not to touch anything like the intercom on the main gate, barriers, lift buttons. When they came to the main entrance, the guard deployed there would contact the resident concerned and he would come at the ground floor of the building and collect the packet. During this, a dedicated guard escorts the delivery boy.”
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