Small traders upbeat as West Bengal allows home delivery of non-essential items

Kolkata, Apr 28 () Small traders and businesseswere upbeat on Tuesday after the West Bengal governmentallowed home delivery of non-essential items, saying thedecision would help ease their financial woes which have beenspiralling due to the ongoing lockdown.

There was apprehension among the traders that thelockdown may get further extended which would have multipliedtheir losses.

"We are hopeful after the chief minister'sannouncement. We want that the government allows us to delivergoods to client locations without opening our shops orgodowns. This will be a win-win situation. The government canimplement social distancing, and livelihood of lakhs can besaved," Confederation of West Bengal Trade Unions presidentSushil Poddar said.

Small traders know their clients personally and theycan transact easily over the phone without meeting each other,but the delivery of goods has to happen, he said.

"Moreover, the government needs to broaden itsdefinition of essential items. Even a goods carriage motorpart becomes an essential item if the vehicle engaged intransporting essential goods faces breakdown," he said.

Poddar said he awaits a clear mandate on the matter.

The parent trade body, having 10 lakh members, wroteto the state government after the Centre recently announcedcertain relaxations on the opening of shops.

Confederation of All India Traders (West Bengal)general secretary Rabi Shankar Roy said they will wait tillthe final guidelines are published and will then comment.

Many traders fear that if the benefit of the decisiongoes to e-commerce companies then it would be more fatal forsmall businesses, he said.

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) thatrepresents large retailers said all types of stores should beallowed to operate, including those in the neighbourhoods.

As RAI, we believe that to fulfil consumer needs inthese trying times, rules for direct customer delivery need tobe broad-based," its chief executive officer Kumar Rajagopalansaid.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday thestate government's decision to allow home delivery of non-essential items, in a boost to the businesses, and alsoeasing lives of people. BSMSOM SOM