Govt panel to iron out e-commerce delivery hurdles in curfew-hit states

E-commerce firms also making arrangements to keep their supply chains running

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has requested a government-appointed panel to step in and iron out the challenges in e-commerce deliveries in states that have imposed curfews owing to a spike in Covid-19 cases.
 
The panel, also known as an empowered group (EG), was set up last year during the nationwide lockdown to facilitate the supply chain and logistics management of goods in the country.
 
“We have referred the issue (on hurdles related to the delivery of essential and non-essential items, especially in Maharashtra) to the empowered group. They will be closely monitoring the issue and intervene as and when required,” a senior government official told Business Standard.
 
The ministry of home affairs had constituted 11 EGs in March 2020 to look at different aspects of delivery during the then ongoing lockdown. One of the EGs was tasked with facilitating supply chain and logistics management of essential items such as food and medicines. 
 
As the Covid-19 situation worsens this year, so far the states have taken the lead in deciding what activities will be allowed during total or partial lockdowns.
 
In the absence of a clear definition of essential and non-essentials items, many e-commerce firms are making their own arrangements for keeping their supply chains running smoothly.

 
Online grocery delivery firm Grofers, for example, said grocery is an essential item. “Groceries come under the essentials category. As an essential service provider, we are working closely with the authorities and have been following directives laid down by the state governments. As of now, we are continuing to deliver items such as groceries, food items, personal care items, hygiene products, amongst others, at customers’ doorstep in a contactless and safe way,” said a Grofers spokesperson.
 
Unlike last year, this time the supply chains have not been disrupted as yet as there hasn’t been a complete nationwide lockdown. Hence, e-commerce logistics have also not been affected so far. 
 
However, with various states imposing curfew and localised lockdowns, there has been a rise in orders and e-commerce companies are gearing up to ensure that no supply chain disruption occurs. For instance, Maharashtra has imposed Section 144 till the end of the month, while Chhattisgarh has imposed lockdown measures in as many as eight districts.
 
“To meet the increase in demand and prevent supply disruption, we have built deeper collaborations with our manufacturing, merchant, and brand partners and are confident that they have sufficient stocks to serve customers in this time of need. With some state governments announcing stricter lockdown norms, we are also ramping up our capacities to serve consumers safely and securely,” added the Grofers spokesperson.
 
Last week, in a letter to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, software services industry body Nasscom had urged the state government to issue a clarification and allow e-commerce companies to deliver all goods and services — essential and non-essential — while adhering to safety norms.
 
Needless to say, this has been opposed by offline merchants and small business owners who feel that if e-commerce firms are allowed to deliver non-essential goods, they, too, should be permitted to remain open for business.