The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed businesses to deliver daily essentials to the people during the lockdown.

With the country going into lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19, there have been widespread concerns among the general public as to how they can get the daily essentials as most of the shops are closed.

The ministry on Thursday held a meeting with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries, owners of supermarkets, grocery stores and other wholesalers in the Valley to discuss how they can ensure supplies of the daily essentials to the general public.

Home Secretary Maheshwor Neupane urged the entrepreneurs to obtain required passes for their delivery vehicles in coordination with local authorities and deliver items to the people’s houses.

The ministry said it prioritised home delivery after a lot of people defied lockdown and went to grocery stores to buy daily essentials. Members of the public can either call the grocery stores or place orders online.

The lockdown has been in force since Tuesday morning.

Ministry Spokesperson Kedarnath Sharma said the entrepreneurs have taken the directive from the government positively.

“We have directed them to deliver items to the people. They are also positive towards implementing it soon,” said Sharma.

Sharma said the ministry has asked grocery stores and local municipalities and ward offices to coordinate and establish contact numbers and ease the supply to the consumers.

Spokesperson Sharma said the ministry would provide vehicles passes required to deliver goods to the people.

“We have asked them to take the required number of passes for their vehicles from district administration offices and inform us if issues arise,” said Sharma.

The meeting coordinated by Secretary Neupane also directed the metropolitan police to provide necessary security to vehicles and stores delivering goods to the people.

The Home Ministry has also urged the general public to report black-marketeering and artificial shortage via its hotline number 1149 or through the local authorities.

The government has said shops selling essentials such as foods and medicine would be allowed to open but most of them in the valley have remained closed raising concerns of a possible shortage.