Solan, July 11
The Centre of Excellence for Direct Selling in Academics (CEDSA), in collaboration with Shoolini University, organised the 3rd CEDSA Direct Selling Conclave. The event saw participation from prominent direct selling professionals across the country, who contributed as panelists.
The conclave commenced with an address by Chancellor Prof. P.K. Khosla. He emphasised on the essence of direct selling by highlighting its unique characteristic of empowering the consumers with a business opportunity. Prof. Khosla also shared insights on the significance of research in Indian universities, citing that quality and knowledge generation should precede teaching and learning.
Prof. Ashish Khosla, Director innovationa and Marketing delivered an engaging speech, sharing his life story and stressing the importance of a learning mindset. He spoke passionately about the establishment of Shoolini University and its commitment to quality over quantity in education. Prof. Khosla also referenced the need for Indian universities to focus on research to achieve global standards.
Prof. Kamal Kant Vashisth, Director of CEDSA at Shoolini University, emphasised the importance of education in gaining societal acceptance for direct selling. He highlighted Shoolini University’s pioneering role in introducing direct selling courses and stressed the need for empowering direct sellers to elevate the profession’s dignity.
The first panel discussion, “Key Stakeholders of Direct Selling Industry in India and Their Roles,” featured Mr. Kapil Sharma, Mohd. Zakir Hussain, Sh. KM Rafique, Sh. Kishore Varma, and Sh. Rahul Sharma. The panelists discussed the government’s regulations and the roles of various stakeholders in the industry.
In the second panel discussion, “Development of a Roadmap to Establish Direct Selling as a Dignified, Well-Perceived Profession,” Prof. Kamal Kant Vashisth, Sh. Kailash Bhattad, Sh. Shiv Arora, Prof. KN Vasu-paliah, Dr. Vinod Nimboodri, and Ms. Yamini Sharma shared their insights on enhancing the profession’s perception and dignity.
The 3rd panel discussion, “Contemporary Challenges, Proposed Solutions, and the Way Forward,” included Dr. Surender Vats, Sh. Pranjal R Daniel, Sh. Narsi Grewal, Sh. Rajiv Gupta, Sh. Ved Prakash Ojha, and Sh. Sunil Sharma. They deliberated on the current challenges faced by the industry and proposed actionable solutions.
The discussions underscored the importance of ethical values in direct selling and laid out the guidelines for maintaining integrity within the industry, such as avoiding exaggeration, respecting harmony, and ensuring transparency.
Kamal Kant Vashisth, Director of CEDSA at Shoolini University said, the 3rd CEDSA Direct Selling Conclave marked a significant milestone in advancing the direct selling industry and bringing together experts and stakeholders to chart a progressive path forward in the industry.