Varying guidelines leads to delivery of non-essential goods across states

Numerous e-commerce companies are delivering non-essential goods across the country as the government guidelines for these companies vary from state to state. States including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu have allowed e-commerce businesses to deliver goods deemed ‘essential’. However, there is a lack of clear guidelines on the list of essential goods, which has led to retailers also delivering fashion, electronics, and cosmetics.

Therefore, e-commerce businesses are lobbying to include all products officially permitted for delivery, arguing that people working from home especially need access to suitable electronics, clothing, and other goods.

A recent survey by community social media platform LocalCircles reveals, demand for ‘non-essential’ goods amongst consumers is growing. In Maharashtra, 60 per cent respondents plan to purchase work-from-home equipment online in the coming three months and, in Delhi, the rate was 48 per cent.

In April, the Confederation of All India Traders accused foreign-owned e- commerce businesses, including Flipkart and Amazon, of flouting lockdown regulations by continuing to deliver ‘non-essential’ goods and taking business away from small businesses.