FMCG sector to explore rural markets via CSCs

The fast-moving consumer goods sector is expected to get a rural boost with government's move to sell goods via the common service centres (CSCs) in rural India. FMCG companies will now be able to sell their products via the 25000 CSCs located across the country. With this initiative, people will be able to come to these centres to orders goods online via the respective companies' websites or the marketplace run by CSCs. The products will be delivered to their homes directly.

The government has already entered into a deal with Baba Ramdev-backed Patanjali Ayurveda. Negotiations are on with other major FMCG players like Hindustan Unilever and Procter and Gamble.

Market report says that village-level entrepreneurs, who run CSCs, will get a commission in the range of 10-20 percent on products sold. The government is looking to boost daily transactions to around Rs 10 crore from the current Rs 2 crore, which will be done via CSCs.

The government via CSCs will be providing a host of services related to ration cards, railway ticket booking, birth certificate issuance and so on.