Supplies of Essentials Will Be Affected In Likely Scenario of an Extended Lockdown in Delhi NCR

While it’s been more than a month in quarantine, pandemic continues to affect not only our individual lives but also many well-known brands and food and non-food industries. 

The panel comprises of the 11 empowered groups constituted by Chief Secretary Vijay Dev on April 20, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to identify problem areas in various COVID-19 combat efforts and offer related solutions.

As per the panel, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supplies will get affected the most if the lockdown across Delhi-NCR continues after May 3rd. The FMCG category includes goods like Lays chips, Haldiram Namkeen products, shampoos, moisturizers of prominent companies, and other products of major consumer goods companies. Companies such as Nestle, P&G, HUL, and products like biscuits, cereals of reputed companies, and sanitizers of reputed companies will be affected. 

The panel cleared that so far, no major shortage of goods of reputed companies has been observed, but factories are not functioning at their full capacity due to the unavailability of enough labor and raw material. There could be a possibility of minor supply issues if the lockdown continues for a longer time.

A report prepared by a six-member Delhi government panel on the supply of essential items such as food and medicine stated that the supply of import-dependent items like coffee, diapers, dry fruits, oil, and cereals, is expected to take a hit if the lockdown is extended beyond May 3rd.

The traders’ associations have also mentioned to the panel that there is a shortfall in supply of packaging material for essential items, which will worsen if the lockdown continues, another report said.

The panel head Ankita Mishra Bundela (Food Commissioner) specified that in the market, all items of general nature are available in shops but some of the products demanded by consumers of reputed companies or products generally by name may not be available in the shelves. However, the shortage of such items has led to an increase in the sale of smaller home-made brands to a greater extent.

When discussed the availability of pulses, the panel was told by traders that fresh supply from Chennai, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh is not forthcoming. The Delhi government also issued an order on Tuesday to put on hold the distribution of pulses under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).

A senior Delhi government official reported that the quality of the pulses they received was not up to the mark, so we have decided to postpone the distribution of 1 kg pulses to every PDS beneficiary under the PMGKY. As and when fresh stock arrives and it clears our quality check, we will start disbursal again.

As per the order issued by the Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, the department with NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd) has taken up the issue related to “quality check of pulses under PMGKY. And so it has been discussed to postpone distribution of pulses under the scheme for April 2020, scheduled to be started with effect from April 29 till resolution of the issue.

The report submitted by panel on Monday, also recommended that plumbers, electricians, and drain cleaners be also allowed to resume work. Late Monday night, the Delhi government lifted restrictions on services provided by veterinary hospitals and water purifier mechanics.

Nearby shops which are not located in shopping complexes, shops selling electric fans and education books will also be allowed to open. Last week, the government had allowed both essential and non-essential standalone and neighborhood nearby shops and those present within residential complexes to open, provided they abide by the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

It added that contrary to initial doubt, there has been no disruption in the sale and supply of essential goods in Delhi. The efficient pass system, supplemented with an e-pass system, has assisted the e-commerce companies, distributors, suppliers, and retailers to function smoothly.

Over to you

Many other non- essential services have been resumed and the Delhi government plans to lift the lockdown eventually after May 3rd by easing restrictions in subdivisions not reporting recent coronavirus cases. However, Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that the final call lies with the Centre.