Advocacy group asks govt if e-comm cos can sell books, fans

New Delhi : Advocacy group US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has sought clarification from the central government whether e-commerce companies are also permitted to sell books and fans as those items were on Tuesday included in the list of essential items that can be sold during the lockdown period.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed shops selling books and electric fans to operate for business as part of essential items.

“We seek your guidance on whether e-commerce platforms will be allowed to sell educational books for students,” the USISPF wrote in a letter to home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday.

“This will allow those unable to reach book stores to continue their education unhindered.” In the letter, the USISPF has requested the government to also allow online marketplaces to sell electric fans.

“With the kind of summers we face in India the bare minimum product that is required in every household in India is an electric fan,” the letter signed by Mukesh Aghi, president of the group said. “Whilst the same has been made available via regular supply chain modes, we would like to urge you to consider allowing e-commerce entities to make the same available on their platforms as well.”