Shillong, Jul 4: The dorbar shnong Nongrim Hills has brushed off concerns that the entry of Blinkit would hinder local businesses in the state, stating that the company would likely not harm neighborhood shops, as its clientele primarily includes individuals accustomed to online shopping.
Headman of the locality, Bantylli Nari said the dorbar prioritises the welfare of the broader community. He said with a population of around six lakh, many residents rely on daily wages, and Blinkit’s services could provide them with efficient access to essential goods at lower prices.
He stated that Blinkit has proposed discounts of up to 20 per cent on various items, which will ease the financial strain on households that often find themselves living hand to mouth.
Blinkit had briefly started preliminary services and on-boarded delivery partners in Nongrim Hills and other parts of Shillong before the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) denied a trading license.
CEM Winston Tony Lyngdoh had said that if trading license was given to the company, around 4000 grocery and meat shops belonging to the indigenous people will have to shut shop.
However, Nari questioned how many of those grocery stores were actually owned by Khasi entrepreneurs versus non-Khasis and pointed out the inconsistency in the KHADC’s approach. He said while the KHADC continues to grant licenses to large e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, a different standard seems to be applied to Blinkit.
Nari stated that the no objection certificate (NOC) was granted after thorough discussions by the executive committee of the dorbar shnong and that it was not a unilateral decision made by him.
He said the dorbar initially issued NOC to Banita Kurbah, a resident of Rynjah, for Blinkit’s operations. However, the NOC was later returned for undisclosed reasons. After fresh discussions, a new NOC was issued to Meban Nongsiej, also a resident of Rynjah.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Alexander Hek Laloo said he would discuss the matter with the KHADC even as he said that the decision rests with consumers and their purchasing choices.
