HLL Shakti dealers

HLL started the Shakti programme in 2000 to empower women in villages to turn into entrepreneurs and start retail outlets for HLL products. It has been very successful, and now HLL is using the same network to help partners like insurance agencies to get access to the rural population, much like the ways in which ITC is using their e-Choupal network for advertisements. Not only does this give the women entrepreneurs a chance to gain importance and respect in their village, but it also gives them an economical incentive to keep the retail store running. For the other villagers, it brings FMCG items to next door.

The ills of the system will be if this turns into a monopoly because Shakti outlets can only market HLL products. Hopefully this will not happen in a competitive economy like India.