Coronavirus impact: Status quo on shopping a day after govt eases curbs

Many seek clarity as to what constitutes non-essential retail

Neighbourhood stores selling non-essential goods remained shut in most parts of India on Saturday, a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the opening up of shops within municipal limits and registered under the Shops and Establishment Act in a bid to revive economic activity.
 

While groceries and pharmacies in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Karnataka were open for a few hours, in accordance with the state and MHA guidelines, non-essential retail remained largely closed through the day.
 

Gujarat has become the first state to issue a notification after the MHA guidelines, saying small and large shops, barring