Sahaj Retail is undertaking a major expansion to grow its presence in rural India, increasing its network from 3.2 lakh to 6 lakh retail centres. This move aims to enhance access to digital services in villages and remote regions nationwide.
The centres will offer key services such as Aadhaar updates, PAN card applications, insurance, utility bill payments, and mobile banking. Trained local individuals, known as Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), will deliver these services and manage the Sahaj Centres.
“We are working across rural India and have around 3.2 lakh centres at present. The idea is to take it up to 6 lakh shortly,” said Biswajeet Chatterjee, CEO of Sahaj Retail.
Each Sahaj centre is independently owned, operated, and funded by different businesses or individuals. As a result, these centres play a vital role in their communities by providing access to essential services that are often unavailable in nearby areas.
“Owner of every centre is different and the person running each Sahaj centre becomes a change-maker in their village,” Biswajeet said.
Sahaj developed its own technology platform to function in areas with low internet connectivity, making it especially effective in remote villages with limited access.
Beyond offering basic digital services, the company now aims to transform each Sahaj centre into a digital utility hub. It is expanding into areas like e-commerce support, agricultural inputs, rural supply chain solutions, and skill development programs. This expansion will enable villagers to shop online, access farming supplies, learn new skills, and benefit from improved delivery systems.
Currently active in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, and parts of the North East, Sahaj now plans to strengthen its presence in central and eastern India, where many rural areas still lack digital connectivity.
A key focus for Sahaj is to empower more women and youth entrepreneurs through its Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) model. In doing so, the company not only generates employment but also builds a broader ecosystem that fosters digital and financial literacy in rural communities.
Sahaj is among a growing number of companies recognizing the potential of the “Bharat” market—India’s vast rural population. As demand for digital services increases beyond urban areas, Sahaj is playing a pivotal role in bridging the digital divide between rural and urban India.
