Booksellers supplying textbooks to ICSE and CBSE schools have urged the state government to allow them to deliver the books directly to students’ homes.

Some booksellers said they already offer the option of buying books online and getting them delivered at home. But all of them would need the government’s permission for bulk doorstep delivery of books.

“We need special permission from the government to deliver textbooks in bulk to students during the lockdown,” a bookseller said.

At least three booksellers have written to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking permission for accepting home-delivery orders. Some others have appealed to school education department officials. “We are ready to take all necessary precautions recommended by the government and WHO,” the bookseller said.

Students of most schools are yet to get books for the new class as the institutions had to shut down all of a sudden because of the lockdown.

Booksellers usually set up counters on the school campus, where guardians can go and buy the books. Some suppliers sell books from their own outlets, too.

Books for the new academic session were to be distributed at the La Martiniere schools on April 1 and 2.

“But the schools can't allow us to open counters on the campuses now,” said a bookseller who supplies books to at least 20 ICSE and CBSE schools in Calcutta.

The schools were shut down on March 16 after the state government announced that all educational institutions would remain closed for the coronavirus outbreak.

The schools will reopen on June 10.

Several schools have started online classes to make up for the loss of classes and many more are preparing to start virtual teaching and learning sessions.

Schools welcomed the booksellers’ proposal of delivering books to students as it would help them if they have the textbooks with them during online classes.

Supriya Dhar, the secretary of the La Martiniere schools, said online classes will soon start and students will benefit if they get the books before that.

“We have no problem if the bookseller can deliver the books at the students’ homes since it is not possible to distribute the books from the camus now,” Dhar said.