In accordance with the Indian Direct Selling Association's (IDSA) annual survey report, Karnataka led the direct selling market in the southern region with sales of Rs 1,128 crore.

The direct selling business in Karnataka provided self-employment to 78,000 entrepreneurs, including 34,000 women, and posted a sales increase of Rs 94 crore in 2021-22, a 9.09 percent increase over the previous year's figure of Rs 1,034 crore, according to the self-regulatory body for the direct selling industry in India.

According to the survey, the state accounted for 5.9 percent of total national sales, which totaled more than Rs 19,030 crore during the period.

It was also stated that the state contributed nearly Rs 170 crore to the exchequer through taxes during 2021-22.

IDSA Chairman Rajat Banerji told reporters on Tuesday that the direct selling industry can withstand the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been extended to the first quarter of the year (2021-22).

"Direct selling has provided nearly 84 lakh Indians with sustainable self-employment and micro-entrepreneurship opportunities and has demonstrated consistent and sustained growth with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of approximately 13% over the last four fiscal years," Banerji said.