A Stumbling Government Which Is Not Sure What Steps Has To Be Taken: What If Something Is Essential To Me And Not To The Government

New Delhi: The Centre Government with confused decision

* Announces Coronavirus is not a Health Emergency and then Declares Lockdown.

* Announces Trains will be started and then Cancelled.

* Announces selling through E-Commerce and taken back.
What is non-essential ? A very thin layer between what’s essential and what if something is essential to me and not to the government?

The supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain banned during the lockdown period, the Home Ministry said today, days after permitting the online sale of goods like mobile phones, refrigerators, clothes, television sets and laptops. A brief order by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said: “‘E-commerce companies (and) vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be allowed to ply with necessary permissions’ – is excluded from the guidelines”.
Last week the government had included the sale of some non-essential goods, through e-commerce platforms, on a list of activities and services to be allowed from April 20 in areas least affected by the coronavirus outbreak, a decision that invited criticism from the Confederation of Indian Traders (CAIT).

“More than 40 lakh traders are supplying essential goods since lockdown came into effect. Side-lining and ignoring them, e-commerce companies have been allowed to deliver non-essential goods from April 20,” Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT Secretary-General, told news agency ANI.

“When the lockdown was announced these e-commerce companies suspended operations. We want to know today what is the necessity for which they have been given permission. We have no objection if they are given permission to provide essential services, but why non-essential goods,” he asked.

On Saturday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led a meeting to discuss re-starting select economic activities and services in non-containment zones after April 20 to boost the faltering economy.

After the meeting the government released a list of activities and services that will be functional from April 20 in parts of the country least affected by the coronavirus outbreak; these activities and services will not be allowed in coronavirus hotspots, the government cautioned.

Guidelines on re-opening some sectors and allowing some activities – in non-COVID-19 hotspot districts – came after Prime Minister Modi extended the lockdown to May 3. The decision came after a video meet with 13 chief ministers who pointed to the lockdown’s impact on the economy.