Proper vegetable supply chain established; non-vegetarians to relish on their favourites soon
With the lockdown in place, Guwahatians have been facing a major problem in acquiring vegetables as regular markets have been stopped from functioning to prevent mass gatherings.
However, the district administration has finally taken steps in this regard and has authorised 10 organisations and individuals to provide home delivery of vegetables.
G Plus checked on the availability of these services and found that eight of them are currently functioning, while the rest two are not available.
The functional service providers are as follows and their services can be availed via mobile based apps and/or contact numbers as provided.
1. Social Enterprise Experts Group - via seujcart.com
2. Chamua Engg Pvt Ltd - via Mohabaahu Fresh app
3. Prithvi Agrofresh, www.wefarmfresh.com
4. NERAMAC - via NE Fresh app
5. Temptation (Anish Tulsyan)
6. KIEGA Exims Pvt. LTD - via Local Farmers App
7. Freshdo
Speaking to G Plus, Bipul Kumar Das, ADC Kamrup (M) informed that currently only the above mentioned parties have been authorized to supply vegetables in Guwahati. However, complaints poured in from many citizens of Guwahati that most of these services were not being able to deliver orders on time and some had even cancelled or rejected many orders.
In trying to understand the matter and problems thereof better, G Plus took stock of the situation and found that the Taza Sabji app, the first app-based service permitted to provide delivery service had suspended operations due to shortage of manpower.
Answering to queries, most home delivery service providers informed that due to insufficient delivery personnel or manpower, orders were not being able to be serviced on time. As such, most have said that customers could expect delivery within only 48 to 72 hours of ordering.
While every app has received orders numbering 600 to 700 per day, the delivered or service-completed rate is quite low at 150 to 300 deliveries per day.
Further, it has been informed that due to lack of packaging materials, proper packaging is not being done as per standards. However, citizens are requested to sympathise with the situation. Also the administration has been requested to provide additional support on the same
Amar Jyoti Chamua of Chamua Engg said, “We are getting regular orders and are providing in Ganeshguri, Panjabari, Sixmile till Lokhra. We have two cars and four bikes for delivery which is not enough, but the permission for more has not yet been granted. We do not have permission to cover the whole city. So even though we were getting orders we had to cancel those. The vegetables are procured from Barpeta, Morigoan, Kharupetia and other districts. We sell at around the rate fixed by the government. Due to shortage of packaging boys we are able to deliver around 100 orders per day.”
Pinky DM Saharia of Prithvi Agro Fresh informed, “We are currently catering to nearly 200 families per day. Although we get more orders we are unable to offer our services at the moment. However, we are doing the needful to fulfil the demands.”
Shankar Nath of NERAMAC said, “As a government organisation we have tried to address the pleas of the farmers. So we have tied up with NE Fresh for delivery services.”
“The government has asked us to collect online payments as there are chances of spread of coronavirus or any disease through currency notes. But as many people are not acquainted with the online processes of payment, we are accepting cash-on-delivery. However, we have made sure that our delivery boys as well as other staff wash and sanitize their hands every half an hour,” said Siddharth Barth of seujcart.com
The organizations providing these delivery services have been permitted by the district authority and permission has also been given vehicles for the same.
Most of them are opting for pre-packed packages of vegetables as it is not feasible to deliver small packets given the shortage in manpower and transport permissibility.
There is also a group of reporters from a reputed media house who have come forward to help by connecting the citizens with the vegetable vendors and Partha Baruah can be contacted for the same.
The district administration has also started sale of vegetables at 91 locations from 8th April.
Speaking to G Plus, a few of these vendors informed that their stock is procured from Pamohi wholesale market every morning and sold at the prescribed localities. The district administration keeps a close check and the products are priced at rates fixed by the government.
It has to be mentioned that the vegetables at the online stores are procured from individual sources and the prices of most are comparatively high. Authorities have however released a prise list to counter the same.
Apart from the above mentioned sources, many localities of the city have regular vegetable vendors. Not only do they price higher but most do not have proper license for service and are not following norms of social distancing.
ADC Bipul Kumar Das informed that any such vendor doing business is illegal and would be dealt with at the earliest. He said, "Illegal business has been going on and measures will be taken soon."
Door-to-door delivery of meat, fish in Guwahati set to be done from Apr 11
Although the city has been feeding on vegetables and groceries during the lockdown, the non-vegetarian section of Guwahati are complaining about the non-availability of meat and fish. Many have pointed out its importance in boosting the immune system.
G Plus had earlier said that areas outside the city premises and other places of the state are getting supply of non-vegetarian items, while the city itself is deprived of the same.
The district administration has finally permitted the supply of meat and fish in Guwahati. Reportedly, the authorities have sought vendors and suppliers to cater to the needs and have asked them to register for the same.
Talking to G Plus, two delivery services, namely, wefarmfresh.com and NE Fresh supported by NERAMAC had confirmed that meat and fish would also be included in their list of delivered good soon.
Pinky Saharia of Prithvi AgroFresh said that they would be supplying from 11th April and also would include dairy products to their list.
Shankar Nath of NERAMAC informed that NE Fresh had been permitted to supply non-vegetarian items and would do so in the next two to three days.
Further, as per instructions received from the government, arrangements have also been made for sale and distribution of local fish to the residents of Guwahati with effect from April 10.
The places that are permitted to do so are the Rupnagar outlet of FISHFED. Door-to-door delivery has also been permitted from Uzanbazar, Pandu and Bhetapara. These sellers are to procure stock from wholesalers through vehicles permitted by the Fishery Department and FISHFED, Assam. However, the process of handing over of fishes by the wholesalers to the door-to-door delivery persons must be completed by 7:00 AM daily. Fishery Department and FISHFED will depute officials at all the three points to keep check on operations and for maintaining of protocol of COVID-19.
The home delivery personnel are to get permits for supply by bicycle or cart and no selling points are to be allowed at the markets and on the roadside. Authorities have also fixed prices of the various products.
Allegedly, many pockets of the city have seen unauthorised supply of meat during lockdown. Although the same could not be confirmed, illegal slaughtering of pork and beef has also been reported from across the city.
