Bhubaneswar: As the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of novel coronavirus entered the third day Friday, civic bodies in Odisha have roped in shopping malls, stores and self-help groups (SHG) for doorstep delivery of essential commodities to ensure that people remain indoors.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has formed a pool of 28 stores for home delivery of food items and other essential goods to prevent gatherings at markets while Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has asked around a dozen shopping malls to undertake a similar initiative, officials said.
The Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has also launched door-to-door delivery of vegetables through SHG members in view of the 21-day lockdown.
A BMC official said the home delivery of essential items has been taken to maintain social distancing.
“This is among a number of initiatives taken by the corporation to make essential commodities available at the doorsteps of the residents of Bhubaneswar. It will check large gatherings in market areas and make social distancing effective,” said the official.
Mentioning that the stores will ensure home delivery of essential articles from 7.00am to 11.00 Friday onwards, the official said that the BMC has also provided a list of WhatsApp numbers of these outlets which can be contacted for placing orders. People can send the list of the items they require along with their address for delivery and pay the bill after receiving the articles, the official informed.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Sudhanshu Sarangi said there is no restriction on the opening hours for shops selling essential commodities in the twin city. Shops can remain open as long as they want to avoid crowding by customers.
In Cuttack, the CMC has made arrangements with around a dozen malls and stores for providing doorstep delivery services to ensure that people stay indoors, an official informed said.
Meanwhile, some stores and retailers have started home delivery of groceries in the state capital, Cuttack and nearby areas through mobile applications and websites. Some other groups are delivering non-vegetarian food items after receiving online orders in here, while a similar drive has been taken for doorstep delivery of milk and dairy products too.
In Berhampur, the urban local body has taken the initiative for home delivery of vegetables though members of SHGs.
In the first phase, they have started selling potatoes and onions in 20 of the 40 wards in the corporation, said Ganjam district Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, who is also the administrator of the BeMC.
“In the first phase, we have engaged at least 25 women-run SHGs of the city for the purpose. Each SHG has been provided with potatoes and onions of 50 kg each for sale at retail market price,” said BeMC commissioner Chakravarti Singh Rathore.
The vehicles, meant for carrying subsidised meals under Aahar Yojana, will be utilised for bulk transportation of the vegetables, Rathore added.
PNN