Chennai Becomes the Hub of Direct Sell ing Dialogue as FDSA Showcases Indust ry Growth and Women’s Role
Tamil Nadu Lauded for Leading Role in ₹26,000 Cr Industry
Chennai, April 24, 2025 — The Federatio n of Direct Selling Association (FDSA), i i n collaboration with Shoolini University, successfully organized a day-long Educa tion and Awareness Program on April 2 4, 2025, at Hotel Radha Regent, Arumba kkam, Chennai. The event witnessed a vi brant gathering of over 300 Direct Selle rs from across Tamil Nadu, representing various FDSA member companies. FDS A, India’s largest self-regulatory body fo r the Direct Selling industry, established in 2011 and comprising 29 active memb er companies, led the initiative. Key dign itaries present included Shri A P Reddy, President – FDSA, Shri Rajiv Gupta, Vice President – FDSA, Adv. Dev Anand, Vice President – FDSA, and academic expert s including Dr. Prof. Thomas Joseph and Dr. Prof. Kamalkant Vasisht from Shooli ni University.
The Chief Guest, Thiru Mohan, IAS, Dire ctor & Commissioner, Civil Supplies & C onsumer Affairs Department, Governa ment of Tamil Nadu, graced the occasion and commended FDSA for its consistent efforts in organizing such awareness dri ves. The event served as an educational platform to raise awareness on Direct S elling rules, ethical practices, regulatory frameworks, and the importance of com pliance with The Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021. The 13-year long journey of FDSA was showcased th rough a video presentation highlighting its impact on shaping-up the legal and p olicy frameworks, since its inception.
“The Direct Selling industry in India has come a long way from the days of uncert ainty and lack of regulation. When the F ederation of Direct Selling Association (FDSA) was founded in 2011, our missio n was clear—to bring legal sanctity & str ucture to an industry that had immense potential but was often misunderstood. Over more than a decade, through persi stent advocacy and close collaboration with both state and central governmen ts, we are proud to have played a pivotal role in the development and implement ation of the Consumer Protection (Direc t Selling) Rules, 2021.
South India, and Tamil Nadu in particul ar, has always been at the forefront of th is movement. In fact, every district in Ta mil Nadu is home to at least one success ful Direct Selling company. Today, the in dustry has expanded to an impressive ₹26,000 crore in annual sales, with FDS A member companies contributing appr oximately 31%. It is also noteworthy tha t 45% of direct sellers are women, many of whom focus on healthcare-related O TC products designed to meet specific w ellness needs at the individual level.
With a comprehensive regulatory fram ework now in-place, the Direct Selling s ector is well-positioned for accelerated growth, projected at around 20% year o n year. As India progresses toward its vi sion of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2047, I am confident that our industr y will play a vital role in contributing to t hat national aspiration. It was during th e challenging year of 2020, amid the CO VID-19 pandemic, that Direct Selling tr uly proved its value—emerging as the fir st choice for many who had lost their jo bs and were seeking an alternative, relia ble source of income. This momentum w as further reinforced by the introductio on of the Direct Selling Rules in 2021, re sulting in consistent year-on-year indus try growth ranging from 12% to 20%.
In today’s fast-paced and demanding wo rld, health has become a central concern rn. Stress, lifestyle imbalances, and poor dietary habits are contributing to a surg e in long-term health conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, obesity, and high blood pressure. These issues often stem from irregular or inadequate nutrit ion. Recognizing this growing need, man y Direct Selling companies are now focu sed on offering health and wellness pro ducts that help individuals maintain a ba lanced diet and lead healthier lives.”said Shri. A P Reddy, President, Federation o f Direct Selling Association (FDSA)
During the event, Shri Rajiv Gupta, Vice President – FDSA, provided a comprehe nsive overview of the Direct Selling indu stry’s journey in India, highlighting the t ransformation from a credibility-challen ged sector to one now backed by legal r ecognition. He encouraged the youth to embrace Direct Selling as a legitimate li velihood opportunity. Adv. Dev Anand, also Vice President – FDSA, emphasized the importance of understanding legal c ompliance, ethical practices, and busine ss regulations, delivering a well-receive ed presentation to equip sellers with act ionable knowledge. He also thanked the Government of Tamil Nadu for its proact ive steps, including the 2023 gazette no tification establishing a state monitorin g mechanism. Dr. Prof. Thomas Joseph, subject expert from Kerala’s Direct Selli ng Monitoring Committee, shared insigh ts into the supportive role of state gover rnments and the significance of local-le vel oversight. Adding an academic persp ective, Dr. Prof. Kamalkant Vasisht from Shoolini University spoke about the uni versity’s contributions to Direct Selling education, while also shedding light on the global trends and future potential of the industry in India.
