On Sunday, the Narendra Modi-led government took a U-turn and prohibited e-commerce platforms from selling non-essential items like mobile phones, refrigerators and ready-made garments amid lockdown, only four days after giving them permission. The April 15 order had said e-commerce platforms were allowed to sell such items from April 20.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued an order excluding the non-essential items from the cart of e-commerce companies. The order said the following clause -- "E-commerce companies. Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be allowed to ply with necessary permissions" -- is excluded from the guidelines."
Here is a list of activities allowed from April 20:
1. All Health Services (including AYUSH)
2. All agricultural and horticultural activities
3. Operations of fishing (marine/inland) aquaculture industry
4. Plantation activities such as tea, coffee and rubber plantations with maximum 50 per cent workers
5. Financial sector
6. Social sector
7. MNREGA works are allowed with strict implementation of social distancing and use of face masks
8. Public Utilities
9. Movement of loading and unloading of goods/cargo (inter and intra) state
10. Online teaching/distance learning is to be encouraged
11. Supply of essential goods
12. Commercial and private establishments
13. Industries/Industrial establishments (both government and private)
14. Construction activities
15. Private vehicles for emergency services (medical and veterinary care), procuring essential commodities and for personnel travelling to workplaces in exempted categories, as per instructions of State/UT local authority
16. Offices of Government of India and offices of State and UT Governments
The Centre also made it clear that the above activities won't be allowed in the containment zones.
Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country rose to 15,712 (including 12974 active cases, 2230 cured/ discharged/ migrated people and 507 deaths), said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday morning.
