What channel of distribution will you use to tap the rural market?

Interesting idea contest Ramdas, I think partnership with NGOs is an effective medium to penetrate in rural Indian market. Because a number of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are working in the rural areas for the upliftment of rural people. They generally form personal level of relationship with rural people. Marketers can effectively use this network for making the products available to the rural consumers particularly for products which requires high level of personal relationship for selling like insurance products and consumer durables, etc. 

It depends on products to be marketed. If they are OTC range of product than one can go for Media with Distiributor network supported by activites(NGO). Other than OTC like pharma or Medically based product need to have a specialized field force who have the expierience of rural marketing and nowadays you have number of CSO comapanies operating for MNC's in rural markeitng and have the knowledge as well as expertise to drive the product across India.  

Friends according to me companies can use their own delivery vans to reach the rural consumers. There are certain advantages of using delivery vans. They take the products to customers and retail outlets in every corner of selected rural markets and enable the company to establish direct contact with the consumers which helps in sales promotion. The leading companies like HLL and many use this distribution strategy to tap the rural market. 

Nowadays the business in rural sector has been increasing since last ten years. It shows great growth in the terms of profitability or the performance in the rural areas. It happen because of the easy accessibility available to the businessmen. Now, the question is how it can possible for these businessmen, what are the possible ways to access the rural market like delivery vans, partnership with NGOs, Tying up with SMEs and wholesalers.

                  It makes our ways more easy and comfortable, which leads in overall business performance and its productive.So, because of the tying up with the SMEs and wholesalers, it should beneficials in terms of large markets and accessibility.

 Any agent is like a franchisee.  just tie up with agressive individuals as franchisees or  agents, givethem samples ( small investment), and make him sell on commission. you get marketing representatives (aggressive like hell) on zero cost. Every village has agents/agressive sellers/opinion makers. 

In six months you will have the largest network of India.