Allow Us To Deliver Non-Essentials, Amazon India Chief Urges On Twitter

Five days ahead of the end of phase 2 of the lockdown in India, Amazon has asked the Indian government to allow ecommerce companies to deliver all products and not just essentials.

Amazon India head Amit Agarwal took to Twitter urging the government to allow them to deliver non-essentials as well as the essential products that they are currently selling. Agarwal said that ecommerce offers the safest way to ensure social distancing, saving lives and livelihoods.

“We urge the govt to allow us to deliver all products (not just essentials) that citizens need over a prolonged period so that they can stay safe, while simultaneously jump-starting MSMEs,” Amazon India head added in his tweet.

Agarwal tagged the Prime Minister’s Office and consumer affairs minister, Piyush Goyal in the tweet.

The request comes after any hopes ecommerce companies had of resuming full operations were dashed last week. In an order dated April 19, the ministry of home affairs said that it is revoking the clause that could have allowed ecommerce companies and their vehicles would be allowed to operate after April 20.

The ministry clarified that in line with the consolidated revised guidelines on lockdown restrictions, the central government has prohibited the supply of non-essential items through ecommerce under the lockdown restrictions to fight Covid-19.

After the lockdown was extended till May 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that if the situation in certain areas improves after April 20, certain activities may be allowed. However, the centre maintained that state authorities will give the final approvals on ecommerce deliveries in such areas to ensure compliance with rules of social distancing.

Several startups and ecommerce giants lauded the decision which opened up the possibility for deliveries of non-essential items such as smartphones, clothes and other high-value products.

After a meeting with government officials, ecommerce executives said that they were assured about the government’s stance on the reinstatement of ecommerce operations.

However, after revoking the order, the government only allowed deliveries of essentials. Further, on April 26, the government allowed retail shops selling non-essential items to open, while still not letting ecommerce companies operate for non-essential deliveries.

According to the order, shops located in residential areas within or outside the limits of municipalities and municipal areas are allowed to open. Meanwhile, market complexes, administered by municipal corporations, are expected to remain closed until further notice.