#Lockdown: Govt Bans Amazon, Flipkart For Non-Essential Items; Offline Retailers Rejoice

Days after Govt allowed ecommerce deliveries for non-essential items during the lockdown, there has been a twist: Now that order stands null and void.

This means that ecommerce portals like Amazon and Flipkart cannot deliver non-essential items during the lockdown.

This is indeed a win for offline retailers, and they have expressed their joy and satisfaction.

Govt: Ecommerce Portals Cannot Deliver Non-Essential Items

Last week, Govt has issued a new notification for relaxed lockdown rules, effective April 20th. 

Under this, ecommerce portals like Amazon, Flipkart and others were allowed to deliver all goods during the lockdown. When the lockdown was started, ecommerce portals were allowed to deliver on essential goods.

However, under extreme pressure from offline retailers, Govt has now reversed this order.

Hence, ecommerce portals are once again banned from delivering non-essential items.

Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notice yesterday:  “Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies to remain prohibited during lockdown,”

This means that online shoppers cannot order non-essential items such as mobile phones, garments, refrigerators, air conditioners from online portals, till May 3rd.

CAIT Hails This As Victory, Says Thank You PM

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which is a powerful association of offline retailers and traders, have hailed this decision as a victory for them,

Ever since Govt had announced a relaxation of lockdown for ecommerce portals, CAIT was up in arms against this decision.

CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal welcomed this decision by Govt of India to stop ecommerce portals from delivering non-essential items during the lockdown.

CAIT said, “Prime Minister Modi is a true friends of the Indian traders and has always stood for our cause whenever it has mattered most,”

Our Opinion: The decision to stop ecommerce portals from delivering non-essential items is a decision that has been clearly taken under the pressure of CAIT and offline retailers. 

Instead of stopping ecommerce portals, Govt should have allowed home delivery of all items, both from ecommerce portals and local grocery stores.

Instead of forcing the common man to step out and risk infection, delivery executives should be trained equipped with protective gears and asked to deliver the products.

We will keep you updated, as more details come in.

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