India’s AP State Chief Minister Assures Industry Of Legislation

 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has assured the industry on addressing the need for creating a regulatory framework for direct selling. 
 
A delegation from Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FICCI) consisting of key industry leaders, government officials and FICCI representatives met at Andhra Bhawan in New Delhi and presented the Chief Minister with FICCI’s Direct Selling report on Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
 
While releasing the report Naidu stated the importance of Self Help Groups (SHGs) such as ‘Dokra’ for the growing importance of women empowerment in society. This sector in particular, has a major chunk of women retailers working independently.
 
According to the report, the direct selling industry has the potential to attain a market size of Rs 50 billion in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana by 2025, driven by growth in the consumer markets and an increase in the penetration of direct selling to globally comparable levels.

“This is likely to have a cascading effect on the socio-economic parameters, along with attracting commensurate capital investments in manufacturing as well as technology acquisition,” the report highlighted.

 According to the key findings of the FICCI-KPMG report –

• There is a need to revisit laws and bring regulatory clarity on direct selling;
• The sector has the potential to engage over 0.8 million women as direct sellers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states by the year 2025;
• The sector’s revenue contribution to the state governments revenue is expected to reach Rs 4.5 to 5 billion by 2025.

The report further highlighted the need to bring in regulatory certainty for the industry, which is mistakenly coupled with fraudulent money circulation schemes because of a lack of clarity in existing legislations.
 
It recommended the immediate need to formulate sector specific rules/guidelines and standard operating procedures for law enforcement agencies, followed by an amendment in the governing legislation and a clear definition of direct selling, giving it a dedicated industry status, as well as enactment of a thorough sector specific legislation and recognition of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs as a nodal ministry for the industry thereafter.
 
The delegation also communicated the need for clarity on the legislations governing this vital sector, so that not only can the industry grow in the state but also “fly-by-night operators” and scams can be checked effectively.