ICRIER, DS needs a policy stimulus

On 18th March, Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Planning, S & T, Parliamentary Affairs and Earth Sciences released report on Socio Economic Impact of Direct Selling: Need for a Policy Stimulus by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations(ICRIER) and sponsored by Indian Selling Association and the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations.

He said that the Direct Selling sector in India is a low investments and high returns affair and entails face-t0-face selling away from affixed retail location. He pointed out that there was a 4.84 percentage increase in the number of direct sellers in India during the recent economic slowdown.

The minister further said that by completing this well structured research study, ICRIER has provided insight into various interplays of the direct selling sector which will help address policy issues and shape the future of the sector through cautious planning and proper regulation to meet future needs of growing India. One of the important aspects policy should look into is the streamlining of rules and regulations for the sector so that genuine direct selling companies can be differentiated from the fake ones and fraudulent activities can be barred.