The government is keen on ecommerce companies tying up with kirana stores to maintain supply of essential goods and ensure that people do not step out of their houses to buy essentials during the extended nationwide lockdown.
While the ecommerce players were already sourcing from cash and carry companies, officials said collaboration with small retail stores is ideal in the current situation.
Moreover, the government will also review the definition of ‘essentials’ and widen it to include work-from-home essentials such as routers, chargers and even stationery, laptops and tablets as students across the country take online classes and need these to support their education.
“We are encouraging tie ups with the local kirana stores. That is ideal because their supply lines are continuing,” said one official in the know of the development. “In any case, ecommerce companies are sourcing from cash and carry companies.”
Source: The Economic Times
