NEW DELHI: Government U-turnaround in home delivery of non-essential items will leave consumers disappointed, the world's largest online retailer Amazon said, but the decision was welcomed by local Kirana store agency CAIT, which called it the "most pragmatic". Four days after allowing e-commerce companies to also deliver non-essential items like electronics and ready-made garments, the government said Sunday that non-essential items will continue to be banned during the shutdown period.
Commenting on the decision, Amazon India said the new guidelines will disappoint consumers whose essential goods list has been expanded to 'work from home' products. and & # 39; study from home & # 39; as well as small businesses, vendors and manufacturers.
The company said it will continue to follow the guidelines and deliver essential products and will work with authorities for expedited processes to enable the safe delivery of priority products.
"The new guideline will disappoint not only consumers whose list of essentials has expanded to work from home and study from home products, but also the thousands of small businesses, vendors and manufacturers across the country who have prepared in the last 48 hours to provide millions of people with safe access to products, "said the Amazon India spokesperson.
Amazon India further said the company hopes "this situation will be rectified soon so that the urgent need of consumers is met and economic activity is resumed."
The Confederation of All Merchants of India (CAIT), which had been campaigning strongly against allowing e-commerce companies to also start non-essential deliveries during the shutdown period, "praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Interior Minister Amit Shah for the most pragmatic decision. " of "valuing the feelings of Indian merchants and protecting their business interests".
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the move "will help create a level playing field for small retailers."
Separately, the Indian Retail Association (RAI) said government home delivery permits must be broad-based and that all types of retailers, including neighborhood stores, should be able to operate.
The retailer's agency said allowing neighborhood stores and major essential chain retailers to make home deliveries will help meet consumer needs in these difficult times and help improve social distancing.
Shortly after the government announced on April 16 a phased plan to lift the blockade by allowing all e-commerce deliveries and the movement of trucks, some states such as Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan issued notifications allowing non-essential deliveries along with essential ones. .
CAIT had resented the measure and said state governments were against Indian merchants and "prefer to destroy the businesses of Indian merchants at the hands of foreign e-commerce players."
"Multinational e-commerce players have been trying to disrupt the businesses of small Indian merchants by adopting unfair trading practices, such as deep discounting and predatory pricing by controlling inventory. Even in the closing period, they would have They have adopted their flawed business model and would promote all kinds of bad practices to damage the foundations of Indian retail, "CAIT said in a statement on Sunday.
The Interior Ministry issued an order Sunday that says the following clause: "E-commerce companies. Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be able to drive with the necessary permits," is excluded from the issues in the guidelines.
Players like Paytm Mall have urged the government to expand the scope of essential goods to include products like laptops and mobile phones to make it easier for people working from home.
"The safety of other Indians is of utmost importance to us, and therefore we support the government's decision in the spirit of limiting e-commerce operations to the essentials. However, we believe that the scope of goods should be increased essential, "said Senior Vice President of Paytm Mall. -Said President Srinivas Mothey.
He added that people in the country are working mainly from home at the moment, but many find it difficult as they are running out of certain items necessary to operate effectively under blockade.
"Laptops, cell phones and accessories, computer hardware, webcams, all of these things must be part of essential assets. If the lockout continues, the lack of proper technical support would hinder employee efficiency, which in turn it would affect a company's operations, "he said.
Sanjay Sethi, CEO and co-founder of ShopClues, echoed similar sentiments. "There is an imperative to broaden the definition of & # 39; essential goods & # 39 ;. In fact, not doing so could backfire at this time," he said.
He added that while the entire nation is forced to come in and work from home for an extended period, it is important that in addition to products like food, groceries, and medicines, one also ensures the supply of other critical items like small kitchen appliances, personal hygiene items, work from essential household items like phones, laptops and accessories.
In the first phase of the national closure between March 24 and April 14, the government had only allowed the delivery of essential goods through e-commerce platforms.
On April 16, the Interior Ministry issued new guidelines for the current blockade that allows e-commerce companies to also sell non-essential items.
A Snapdeal spokesperson said the company will continue to operate in full compliance with government-issued guidelines in this regard.
Nasscom President Debjani Ghosh tweeted that the decision could have been "better thought".
"This could have been thought better … a lot of eCommerce has invested in planning for 20. And most don't have a lot of money to handle this type of investment in decisions. I think the focus should have been on ensuring adequate security protocols, "he said.
Commenting on the decision, Amazon India said the new guidelines will disappoint consumers whose essential goods list has been expanded to 'work from home' products. and & # 39; study from home & # 39; as well as small businesses, vendors and manufacturers.
The company said it will continue to follow the guidelines and deliver essential products and will work with authorities for expedited processes to enable the safe delivery of priority products.
"The new guideline will disappoint not only consumers whose list of essentials has expanded to work from home and study from home products, but also the thousands of small businesses, vendors and manufacturers across the country who have prepared in the last 48 hours to provide millions of people with safe access to products, "said the Amazon India spokesperson.
Amazon India further said the company hopes "this situation will be rectified soon so that the urgent need of consumers is met and economic activity is resumed."
The Confederation of All Merchants of India (CAIT), which had been campaigning strongly against allowing e-commerce companies to also start non-essential deliveries during the shutdown period, "praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Interior Minister Amit Shah for the most pragmatic decision. " of "valuing the feelings of Indian merchants and protecting their business interests".
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the move "will help create a level playing field for small retailers."
Separately, the Indian Retail Association (RAI) said government home delivery permits must be broad-based and that all types of retailers, including neighborhood stores, should be able to operate.
The retailer's agency said allowing neighborhood stores and major essential chain retailers to make home deliveries will help meet consumer needs in these difficult times and help improve social distancing.
Shortly after the government announced on April 16 a phased plan to lift the blockade by allowing all e-commerce deliveries and the movement of trucks, some states such as Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan issued notifications allowing non-essential deliveries along with essential ones. .
CAIT had resented the measure and said state governments were against Indian merchants and "prefer to destroy the businesses of Indian merchants at the hands of foreign e-commerce players."
"Multinational e-commerce players have been trying to disrupt the businesses of small Indian merchants by adopting unfair trading practices, such as deep discounting and predatory pricing by controlling inventory. Even in the closing period, they would have They have adopted their flawed business model and would promote all kinds of bad practices to damage the foundations of Indian retail, "CAIT said in a statement on Sunday.
The Interior Ministry issued an order Sunday that says the following clause: "E-commerce companies. Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be able to drive with the necessary permits," is excluded from the issues in the guidelines.
Players like Paytm Mall have urged the government to expand the scope of essential goods to include products like laptops and mobile phones to make it easier for people working from home.
"The safety of other Indians is of utmost importance to us, and therefore we support the government's decision in the spirit of limiting e-commerce operations to the essentials. However, we believe that the scope of goods should be increased essential, "said Senior Vice President of Paytm Mall. -Said President Srinivas Mothey.
He added that people in the country are working mainly from home at the moment, but many find it difficult as they are running out of certain items necessary to operate effectively under blockade.
"Laptops, cell phones and accessories, computer hardware, webcams, all of these things must be part of essential assets. If the lockout continues, the lack of proper technical support would hinder employee efficiency, which in turn it would affect a company's operations, "he said.
Sanjay Sethi, CEO and co-founder of ShopClues, echoed similar sentiments. "There is an imperative to broaden the definition of & # 39; essential goods & # 39 ;. In fact, not doing so could backfire at this time," he said.
He added that while the entire nation is forced to come in and work from home for an extended period, it is important that in addition to products like food, groceries, and medicines, one also ensures the supply of other critical items like small kitchen appliances, personal hygiene items, work from essential household items like phones, laptops and accessories.
In the first phase of the national closure between March 24 and April 14, the government had only allowed the delivery of essential goods through e-commerce platforms.
On April 16, the Interior Ministry issued new guidelines for the current blockade that allows e-commerce companies to also sell non-essential items.
A Snapdeal spokesperson said the company will continue to operate in full compliance with government-issued guidelines in this regard.
Nasscom President Debjani Ghosh tweeted that the decision could have been "better thought".
"This could have been thought better … a lot of eCommerce has invested in planning for 20. And most don't have a lot of money to handle this type of investment in decisions. I think the focus should have been on ensuring adequate security protocols, "he said.
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