Despite govt word, e-com deliveries stay suspended

Despite the central government issuing standard operating procedure to handle supply of essential goods, e-commerce companies have not resumed their deliveries yet. While some have started taking orders, all are still waiting for more clarity from the local authorities.

In a meeting with industry stakeholders to discuss the issues faced by them due to the Covid-19 lockdown, minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal assured that the government is committed to ensure that essential goods reach the people in the most convenient and safest manner.

At the request of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, the Ministry of Home affairs has issued standard operating procedure for state governments' guidance on how to handle various aspects related to supply of essential goods. The department has also set up a control room to monitor in real time the status of transportation and delivery of goods, manufacturing, delivery of essential commodities to the common man and the difficulties being faced by various stakeholders during the lockdown period.

The meeting with Goyal was attended by representatives of Snapdeal, Shopclues, Flipkart, Grofers, NetMeds, PharmEasy, 1MG Tech, Udaan, Amazon India, Big Basket, Zomato. Large retail operators were represented by Metro Cash & Carry, Walmart and RPG while Express Industry Council, Delihivery, Safexpress, PayTM, Swiggy represented logistics operators.

However, the e-commerce players have not yet resumed their operations. According to industry insiders, the operating procedures have to reach the state and district level authorities.

"Though a central directive has come, it will take some time for that to reach the local level authorities. The issue of huge backlog also has to be sorted out. Hence, it will take some more time for the customers to receive the deliveries," said an industry insider.

However, some of the players have started taking orders again. "We are taking orders of only essential products through pre-paid payment methods, while we work towards resuming deliveries soon," Amazon told its customers.

BigBasket too has started taking orders and hopes to make deliveries by the weekend. Operations of Flipkart and Grofers continued to be suspended.