The state government in an order said “e-commerce delivery of all goods and commodities including food, pharmaceutical, medical equipment, electrical and electronic appliances” is exempted from the extended lockdown till May 3.
The state government order comes at a time when there has been confusion in some sectors and industries on whether the Centre has exempted e-commerce for all non-essential goods or just food and grocery like before.
Odisha government had already relaxed e-commerce operations for all goods last Monday.
A senior e-commerce sector executive said the Centre has verbally informed the states that they can exempt e-commerce sales and delivery across products since there is a latent demand for some products like laptops, tablets, smartphones, headphones, printers, Wi-Fi routers due to work from home and study from home situation.
Another executive said there is also huge demand for home appliances like washing machines, dish washers and vacuum cleaners since most of the households have to do their own chores. Consumers are also searching for personal care equipment like shavers and epilators since salons are closed.
“Consumers will buy only what they require now and unlikely any discretionary purchases will happen since sentiments are depressed. Herein e-commerce can play a big role since it will help them buy maintaining social distance,” an industry executive said.
