RMAAI to become more inclusive

To unveil findings of national study on ‘Rural Retail’ (May 02, 2008)

Top Story on eventfaq.com dated 2.5.08

The Rural Marketing Agencies Association of India (RMAAI) is on overdrive. Having turned three in April 2008, the RMAAI is looking to expand its base by becoming more inclusive, going beyond ‘Rural marketing Agencies’. With the change, the association could be rechristened as the Rural Marketing Association of India.

The idea is to open its doors to include all those interested in rural marketing, rather than restrict membership to agencies.

Speaking with EVENTFAQS, R V Rajan, President, RMAAI, and Chairman, Anugrah Madison Advertising, said, “At the moment, the full membership of RMAAI is open to only Rural Marketing Agencies, which we feel is restricting its growth. The Association is planning to broad base the membership to make it open to all those interested in Rural Marketing, by renaming the Association as RMAI and changing the rules regarding membership and fees. A decision regarding this is expected at the forthcoming AGM of the Association to be held in June this year.”

In the process, the association has proposed to rename itself as Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI).

The RMAAI has also been active in organizing seminars focused on different aspects of Rural Marketing. The fourth seminar in the series would be on ‘Rural Retail’. Alongside, findings of a National Study on Rural Retail, undertaken by RMAAI in association with Chennai-based market research agency Francis Kanoi, will be presented.

Since its inception, the RMAAI has conducted seminars on topics including ‘Rural Insurance’ in association with PRCI in Hyderabad; ‘Rural Banking’ in association with Indian Banking Association (IBA) in Mumbai; and ‘Rural Technology’ in association with Nasscom in Delhi.

There’s more action at RMAAI. The second edition of Rural Marketing Works Case Studies Awards has been scheduled for November ’08. The first awards function with CavinKare as title sponsor was held in the same month last year. In August, the association would organise its Awards for summer projects in Rural Marketing, instituted for students from management institutes.