MeitY lists IT products in essentials items

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) has looked up the matter of including IT and telecom products in the list of essential items. This will allow their sale through retail stores and e-commerce platforms during the lockdown.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, IT and telecom minister in a meeting with electronics manufacturers has informed that the requests regarding broadening the definition of essential goods to ICT products, retail /online sale of ICT essential goods, authorized sales and services of ICT essential goods have already been taken up with Ministry of Home Affairs. Prasad instructed the ministry officials to extend full support to the industry and liaison with states and union territories for reopening of electronics manufacturing facilities.

The minister reminded companies that under the recently notified schemes, the government will provide a financial support of Rs 50,000 crore to the electronic system design and manufacturing ecosystem and requested the industry to take advantage of the new schemes and attract global investments. Industry associations ICEA, MAIT, ELCINA, IESA, CEAMA, CII, IAMAI, TEMA, PHD Chamber of Commerce etc were part of the meeting with the minister.

Electronic manufacturers have been demanding to include mobile devices like smartphones, laptops, servers and related accessories among essential items to support work from home during the lockdown.

India Cellular and Electronics Association has written to the government authorities including Meity and the Home Ministry to allow sale of mobile devices to support communication at the time of coronavirus crisis. But MHA is yet to decide on the same.

Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT) suggested that the government can take a phased approach, where retail is opened in semi-urban and towns, and e-commerce in metros.