Curbing Delivery of Non-essentials

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