Hoshiarpur/Daljit Ajnoha:- Online shopping has become so widespread these days that people have started treating it as a status symbol. Online sales have grown very rapidly over the past five years, bringing local shops to the verge of closure. Expressing deep concern over the growth of online sales, former Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Tikshan Sood appealed to Indian consumers to minimise online shopping during the festive season.
He said that, according to an estimate, India's online market is set to cross ₹8 lakh crore, and the most surprising aspect is that online sales of grocery items have increased by around 55 per cent. Overall online sales have registered growth of approximately 25 per cent over the past five years, which is a matter of serious concern.
He said that the benefits of online sales are going only to large companies, while small shopkeepers and medium-sized business owners, who form the backbone of the social fabric, are losing their businesses and are on the verge of becoming unemployed. Not only this, employees working in these businesses are also losing their jobs.
At present, besides groceries, products such as cosmetics, clothing and furniture are also being purchased in large quantities online. He said that if online sales continue to grow at this pace, many business owners will be reduced to mere employees of large companies. As a result, India's strengthening economy will fall behind and suffer serious damage.
He said that to achieve the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, all Indians should purchase goods from local shopkeepers and small businesses instead of shopping online. This would benefit the poorer sections of society and also strengthen India's economy.
