Online businesses and trade affiliated with e-commerce in Kashmir have faced losses worth over Rs 3000 lakh in past more than two months of the ongoing uprising due to ban on mobile Internet and broadband services.
Preliminary estimates suggest that online businesses are incurring Rs 40 to 50 lakh losses on an average daily basis.
President Courier Service providers Association, Zahoor Qari said that the Internet ban and prevailing situation on the ground has dented their business.
“Courier service was not a traditional business in Kashmir, but it was flourishing due to increase in e-commerce activities during last few years,” he said, adding that the Internet blockade and curfews have badly affected this sector.
He said more than 8000 youths were working as courier boys before the unrest began.
“These two months have hit everything, as our business had plummeted to zero with no returns,” he said, adding that they had to return all the shipments which were ordered by customers before Eid.
Courier boys, on the other hand, said they have been rendered “jobless” due to the prevailing situation.
“Our employer has categorically informed us to look for other jobs as he himself is not earning anything due to the situation as his business is down with losses piling up,” said a courier boy Jehangir Ahmad.
Mobile Internet services were snapped a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with government forces on July 8.
Eight-six civilians have been killed in subsequent forces’ action on protesters.
Online shopping portals established by local technocrats and entrepreneurs are facing the brunt of continuous restrictions and Internet blockade.
“Our business was picking up, all our investments and energy was channelized to make our endeavor success, but unfortunately situation took ugly turn and after putting in years of work we are back to where we were when we started,” said an e-commerce entrepreneur, wishing anonymity.
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