Categories: Economy

Retailers complain of delay in e-passes, warn of shortages

Traders and retailers dealing in essential items, who have been exempted from the 21-day lockdown, are finding it difficult to get e-passes to be able to move freely. While the Centre made it clear that the supply of essential items including medicines, vegetables, grocery, milk and milk products, and even delivery of cooked food will not be disrupted, many state and local authorities have failed to follow up with this.

Many traders in the national capital region have faced difficulty even in accessing the website to apply for the e-pass. Not just that, it often takes about three-four days for the authorities to issue the pass and in a few cases, they have been rejected, leading to disruption in supply.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said that despite the difficulties faced by the retailers dealing in essential goods, wholesale traders are doing their best to keep the supply chain intact.

The near collapse of the transport system in may parts of the country has also led to additional problems for the retail sector. “This is making it very difficult for us to get the supplies and restock,” a grocery store owner in Gurgaon said. Worse, they have to make do with skeleton staff. According to CAIT, a large number of migrant workers who had been engaged by shop assistants have gone to their native villages. However, many who have chosen to stay put are reluctant to come to work because of fear of the killer coronavirus.

According to CAIT, transport facility has got disrupted due to the non-availability of drivers. “In such a situation, smooth operations at the end of traders dealing in essential goods is almost a challenging task,” it said in a statement.

CAIT estimated the overall loss in the Indian retail segment the last 15 days to be around $30 billion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 announced a 21-day lockdown to break the chain of transmission of the deadly virus. India has reported over 3,000 coronavirus cases as of now..

indianarrative

Recent Posts

Protests erupt across PoGB over Kurram attack, shia community seeks justice

Protest demonstrations broke out across different areas of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan after Friday prayers, with thousands…

11 hours ago

UKPNP Slams Pakistan’s Unconstitutional Presidential Order in PoJK

Jamil Maqsood, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kashmir People's National…

14 hours ago

Meeting of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement committee concludes in Delhi

The 6th meeting of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee concluded in…

15 hours ago

US adds 29 Chinese firms to Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity list

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task…

15 hours ago

Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile calls for UK’s action on China’s Abuses

A delegation from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and accompanied…

16 hours ago

Indian Dornier 228 aircraft flypast on the sidelines of India-CARICOM Summit

On the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit, leaders of the member countries witnessed a…

16 hours ago