New Delhi : Vivek Katoch, Director – Corporate Affairs, Oriflame, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA), the apex body of the direct selling industry in India.
Katoch has held this coveted post for the second time. He also represents the Indian direct selling industry as a member delegate on the Board of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA).
The elections to the new executive committee of IDSA were held at its 27th Annual General Meeting here on Thursday, in which Harish Pant, Director and Head of Government Relations, Herbalife International, was elected as Vice Chairman, Aprajita Sarkar, Head of Growth Office, Modicare Limited, as Treasurer, and Rajat Banerji, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Amway India, as Secretary. The new Executive Committee will hold office for a period of two years.
On the occasion of assuming the charge of the post of chairman, Katoch said, “The direct selling industry in the country is growing at a steady pace. Apart from making an important contribution to the country’s economy, the industry has provided livelihood opportunities and alternative sources of income to around nine million people working full-time or part-time. The industry has now made inroads into rural areas as well, and we are committed to taking this to every nook and cranny of the country.”
He said, “Consumer protection is of paramount importance for us. Bringing direct selling under the ambit of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 and the subsequent notification of the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021, for this industry has not only brought transparency but also more clarity on policy matters. We especially thank Locket Chatterjee, Hon’ble Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs, and Public Distribution, and Rohit Kumar, Secretary, of the Department of Consumer Affairs for understanding the concerns of the industry and bringing the desired amendment to the Direct Selling Rules.
Banerji, the outgoing chairman, said during his tenure one of the several initiatives taken up by IDSA was to build capacity for the state governments to set up monitoring mechanisms for supervising the activities of direct sellers and direct selling entities. A total of 9 state governments have notified the monitoring mechanism so far and I’m proud to say that five of these states have appointed IDSA as subject matter expert in their committees. I’m hopeful that the new executive committee of IDSA shall pursue this course even further with the other states, ensuring a robust monitoring mechanism in place that protects the rights of consumers.About IDSA– The Indian Direct Selling Association IDSA is an autonomous, self-regulatory body for the direct selling industry in India. The Association acts as an interface between the industry and policy-making bodies of the Government facilitating the cause of the Direct Selling Industry in India. IDSA strives to create and further, an environment conducive to the growth of the direct selling industry in India, partnering with industry and government alike through advisory and consultative activities. IDSA catalyses change by working closely with the government on policy issues, enhancing efficiency and ushering in the desired credibility, clarity & confidence in Direct Selling.
