“Vyapar Rhawan”
925/1, Naiwala, Karol Haigh, New Delhi-110005.
Phone: +91-11-45002664, Telefax: 91-11-45032665
E-mail: teamcait@gmail.com Website: www.cait.in
20th January, 2022
Ref. No.: 3344/1/50
Shri Piyush Goyal,
Minister of Commerce & Industry,
Government of India,
New Delhi.
Subject: Treat Mobile Retail & Service as Essential Category.
Dear Shri Piyush Goyal ii,
Warm Greetings from Team CAIT.
We crave leave to invite your kind attention towards the plight of the mobile retailer in the current pandemic situation and solution thereon.
As you are aware that ‘communication has become the 4th most important aspect of human race after the Food, Cloth, Shelter (Rod, Kapda our Makan). With digital technology advancements it has become imperative and impossible to live without the means of communication i.e. mobile phones, accessories, and their services and with the pandemic the entire way of working moved on these resources contributing to the running of offices, trade, education directly contributing to economy and running the country.
The Covid-19 pandemic has been a big game changer and a thought changer in the performing of day to day workings leading to complete dependency on Digital technology as mentioned above. Mobile and digital products have become essential in every aspect and a consumer who needs a particular product depends of that personalize partner who guides and helps him procure the right kind of product.
Due to the recent lockdowns, the customer suffered badly due to shops being shut down for not being in Essential category. He suffered for the proper upkeep, service, upgrade of the product, students loosing even on exams and other important aspects dependent of digital products due to these unforeseen lockdown circumstances.
All these not only impacted the community right from and individual to businessman who could not deliver due to these situations. CAIT as an organization has always moved with the Government of India and has played its important role in educating and motivating the traders across the Country in all verticals to follow strict protocols and undergo Vaccinations. The entire retail fraternity in our connect is largely vaccinated and follows all the Protocols as per the call of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi which is carried by you in unflinching terms.
For the benefit of all we as a responsible association request your kind intervention in helping convert the Mobile retailers into Essential Category or for the purpose of Lockdowns treat this trade as Essential and allow to open retail for service during lockdown. This way our retailers shall be allowed to open shops during the lockdowns not only to serve the requirements of community, earn their livelihoods but also to contribute in the building of economy.
In current lockdowns, mobile industry has been badly hit due differential treatment across states due to lack of clarity on subject. Some states do not allow operations treating us as non-essential but at the same time allow the Ecommerce portals to deliver the same denting the entire industry creating a monopolistic advantage for the Online portals thereby diverting customers killing the retail which is livelihood of millions.
Being the person who understands business to the core, we are sure you will understand the ground realities helping us maintain our existence by this change in policy for development of trade and economy.
Thank You. With kind regards
Truly yours
Praveen Khandelwal
National Secretary General
Confederation of All India Traders
