Govt asks states to ban multi-level marketing schemes
The Centre has proposed state governments to ban all companies running schemes which offer monetary benefits to subscriber for enrolling members to their scheme.
In effect, all companies, firm or business associations in any form or individuals will not be allowed to run a scheme “with a compensation plan in which the subscribers would compulsorily have to enroll certain minimum number of subscribers to become entitled to monetary benefits or link the monetary benefits or commission to the subscribers”.
The proposal is a part of the centre’s effort to curb the menace of ponzi schemes, which has flourished in the country due to absence of regulatory oversight, the most recent and bizarre being the case of Gurgaon-based Beetal Livestock & Farm which had promised its investors a return of 2 per cent per month, and that too by rearing goats. Suspecting foul play, market regulator Sebi issued show-cause notice to the company that returned undelivered.
After the case of alleged fraud committed by Singapore-based multi-level marketing (MLM) portal SpeakAsia Online, the government started the process of reining in such companies which offered impossibly high returns in a very short span or offered huge benefits for enrolling more subscribers.
An inter-ministerial committee comprising the Reserve Bank of India, and ministries of consumer affairs, corporate affairs, finance and law, was formed to look into the matter. It suggested setting up of a central agency to oversee MLM schemes and also proposed to filter and block websites above a certain number of subscribers
