Reverse Logistics in Indian Rural Retail Market

In academic and scientific literature, Supply Chain Management is a branch of knowledge dealing with such types of exchange arrangements where we fulfill our needs among ourselves. Supply Chain Management covers the supply of products, services and other valuable resources in both directions. It includes the movement of products and services from the producer/manufacturer/supplier towards the customer/consumer at one end (Forward Logistics), and the movement of resources like cash and other valuable items and important information from the customer/consumer towards the producer/manufacturer/supplier (Reverse Logistics). Besides providing the entire concept of the reverse logistics to the understanding of a layman by focusing upon the Indian rural retail scenario, this study aims to fulfill two broad objectives; to find out from the existing literature the major differences between forward logistics and reverse logistics and to develop a model explaining the drivers of reverse logistics in Indian rural retail business (unorganized retail). The methodology adopted to achieve these objectives includes an extensive literature review accompanied with the personal interaction and observations with the various stakeholders.