KATHMANDU- Following widespread criticism of cracking down on delivery services, the government is now weighing on a decision to relax restrictions for home delivery businesses and services.
The District Administration Office in Kathmandu has formed a task force, headed by assistant CDO of Kathmandu Janak Raj Bhatta, to prepare protocols and processes to be put into place while operating online delivery businesses.
“The committee has been formed to look into the possibility of lifting restrictions on online delivery businesses by following necessary protocols,” said Jiwan Dulal, an assistant CDO of Kathmandu.
“Further decisions on whether to lift restrictions will be based on the recommendations made by the committee,” said Assistant CDO Dulal, adding that the committee has been asked to submit its report within two to three days.
Other members of the committee include representatives from the Nepal Police, Ministry of Commerce, Supplies and Industry and Ministry of Health and Population.
The move to weigh the possibility of lifting restrictions on home delivery services comes in the wake of growing criticism of the government’s recent arrests of delivery staff who were out on the roads to supply goods to their customers.
As prohibitory orders have kept people inside their houses, many have found it convenient to order their goods online. However, officials at the local administration have said that the crackdown was aimed at enforcing the prohibitory order imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Online delivery businesses have suspended their services since the police began arresting staff at holding centers for hours,
Founders of the online delivery startups have criticized the mistreatment by the police and demanded that the restrictions on online delivery services be lifted.
Many have stated that doing so will not only promote startups, but also help authorities to meet their objective of keeping people at their homes and avoiding crowds in shops and markets that are allowed to open only until 9 am.
