Why in News?
Centre has reversed its decision to resume delivery of ‘non-essentials’ by e-commerce companies.
What does this decision mean?
- This decision is welcome, given that India is still not out of the woods in its pandemic fight.
- The previous decision by the Centre to allow the delivery was taken as a part of easing of the lockdown curbs from April 20.
- Doorstep delivery of products purchased online by an e-commerce firm minimises human interaction to a negligible level.
- But the lockdown is aimed at restricting movement to the barest minimum in order to break the chain of transmission.
- This necessitates limiting the exemptions.
Why non-essentials, in particular, should be limited?
- Non-essential items like books, electronics, etc constitute the bulk of the listings on e-commerce sites.
- Every additional product category would involve that many more people getting activated along the supply chain.
- These people may be from a producer or supplier to the transport operators and additional delivery persons.
How should some sectors be permitted?
- There are immense economic costs associated with the shutdown especially to individual livelihoods.
- It would be reasonable to reopen some sectors and jobs with stringent safeguards mandated.
- However, they should be permitted in a phased manner.
- This was the underlying rationale behind the Centre’s April 15 missive.
- Among the sectors that can resume are agricultural and horticultural activities, banking, cargo transportation, construction, etc.
- Self-employed tradesmen such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters have been allowed to resume work.
What could be the priority?
- As the lockdown extends to over a month, what might have been non-essential initially might turn essential later.
- For instance, a ‘non-essential’ laptop is essential for a person working from home or attending online classes.
- The very definition of what ought to be deemed essential is lost here.
- Still, protecting lives must be the ultimate priority over allowing commercial activity.
Source: The Hindu
