Smartphone makers led by Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme and Lava, and their vendors have approached various state governments to include smartphones, tablets, laptops and their components as essential goods.
Online retailers Amazon and Flipkart are prodding multiple brands to persuade states with restrictions to allow home delivery, either through e-commerce or from retail stores, reported Economic Times. This also includes products such as air conditioners and refrigerators.
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The move comes after many states have restricted sale of non-essential items through any mode in the backdrop of alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. The smartphone manufacturers and online retailers have approached the governments via the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA).
The association is of the opinion that classifying these products as essential will ensure their manufacture and distribution to continue uninterrupted. It has urged states to allow sale of mobile devices via retail stores and e-commerce.
