E-tailers asked to draw up limited list of essentials they want to supply

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has asked ecommerce companies to draw up a limited list of products that they consider essential to deliver as many people work from home.

This will include staples and pharmaceuticals already included in the list.

E-commerce companies are keen to deliver work-from-home essentials such as routers, chargers and even stationery, laptops and tablets as students across the country take online classes and need these to support their education.

“We have asked e-commerce companies to give us a limited list of products that they want allowed. Then we will examine and send it to the home affairs ministry,” said an official.

The move comes after the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Sunday clarified that the supply of non-essential goods through ecommerce companies will remain prohibited under the lockdown restrictions even as the online players were gearing up to begin selling products beyond food and hygiene in noncontainment zones from Monday.

The ministry’s April 15 order had exempted “ecommerce companies” and “vehicles used by ecommerce operators”, prompting many online firms asking their sellers to prepare for a resumption of full-fledged operations.

However, MHA’s latest clarification excludes the clause which allowed ecommerce firms to sell all essential and non-essential products starting April 20.

The MHA guidelines detail the things of daily use, which include food, grocery, fruits, vegetables, medicines, healthcare and hygiene products and pharmaceuticals that can be delivered through online channels.

“Chargers and others are not bought daily. That way there could be many products that could be allowed,” the official added.

While Mahrashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh had allowed ecommerce companies to deliver all goods post the MHA’s earlier guidelines, Punjab has also brought the sale of air conditioners, air coolers, fans and repair shops under the ambit of essential goods or services. “At present, there is no provision to expand the essentials’ list,” the official said, and added that many states have interpreted the order their way and allowed certain activities.