Seminar on Consumer Protection and Consumer Welfare (Focus on Rural Consumers) (May 21, 2012)

Transcription

1 Seminar on Consumer Protection and Consumer Welfare (Focus on Rural Consumers) (May 21, 2012) A Seminar on Consumer Protection and Consumer Welfare was organized by the Centre for Consumer Studies, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi in collaboration with Rajkot Saher Jilla Grahak Suraksha Mandal, Rajkot, Gujarat on May 21st, The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, sponsored the programme. More than 200 participants from different parts of Gujarat attended the programme. Dignitaries Lighting the lamp in the Inaugural Session The objectives of the training programme were to enhance the knowledge and skill in the area of Consumer Protection and Consumer Welfare; understand the need and importance of Consumer Protection and Welfare; explain the various provisions of the Consumer Protection Act and other legislations having a bearing on Consumer Protection; discuss the legal dimensions of Consumer Protection in different service sectors such as medical, banking, insurance etc. The Seminar was an attempt to discuss and deliberate on various issues related to consumer protection and consumer

2 Welfare, create awareness regarding the consumer protection and rights of the consumers with reference to the rural consumers. Shri Ramjibhai Mavani delivering the Welcome Address The Programme commenced with a Welcome Address by Shri Ramjibhai B Mavani, Founder President, Rajkot Saher Jilla Grahak Suraksha Mandal, Rajkot and Ex-MP (Lok Sabha). He briefed the participants about the objectives of the programme, the topics to be covered. The programme was inaugurated by Shri. Vajubhai Govindbhai Patel, MLA, Rajkot. The programme was presided by Smt. Bhanuben Babariya, MLA, Rajkot. The other dignitaries present on the occasion were Shri. Laljibhai Savaliya Advocate, Gujarat High Court, Shri. Maheshbhai Joshi, Head of Economics, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Shri. R.C. Popat, Director, Sandipani Institute, Rajkot, Dr. Ashit Vaishnav, Anesthetists, Rajkot.

3 In his Inaugural Address, Shri Vajubhai Govindbhai Patel, MLA, Rajkot., described consumer protection as need of the hour. He went on to give guidelines and knowledge on the theme: Consumer Protection and Consumer Welfare to the Consumers. Highlighting about the importance of Consumer Protection Act, he said that it is a piece of social welfare legislation which protects the consumers against the unscrupulous manufacturers and service providers. Therefore, there is a need to make more and more people aware about this Act so that they can fight against dishonest or corrupt practices resorted to by the traders or service providers. He said that keeping in view the demand of present era no society will ever proceed with a desire to achieve for the future without making the people conscious about their rights and to make a society a better place to live in. The need of the hour is that consumer awareness and education should be taken to the rural masses and each of us should strive for it. Smt. Bhanuben Babariya, MLA, Rajkot, Addressing the Participants Smt Ramaben Mavani welcoming the Chief Guest, Shri Vajubhai Govindbhai Patel, MLA Rajkot Smt. Bhanuben Babariya, MLA, Rajkot, in her address said that there is a need to organize more and more such programmes for the benefit of the consumers.she stressed that the educational institutions in collaboration with the local voluntary organizations can play an effective role in educating the rural consumers. The Consumer Protection Act may be incorporated as part

4 of school curriculum. Also, in each block, there should be an office to deal exclusively with the needs and interest of the consumers. Prof. Suresh Misra, Chair Professor, CCS, IIPA while introducing the Seminar, extended a warm welcome to all the dignitaries and participants of the Seminar. He introduced the theme and its relevance as a result of aggressive marketing practices by business in rural sector leading to exploitation of and vulnerability of rural consumers. This was the idea behind organizing such a seminar to make qualitative resolution towards consumer justice especially in rural areas where many people are not aware of the consumer rights and the redressal machinery. To provide better services there is a need to develop confidence among rural consumers, by providing information and such seminars are platforms where minds meet and the deliberations provide an outreach to the consumer movement. The Programme was divided into Three Technical Sessions. Rural Consumer: Need for Protection was an effort to look into the change in the lifestyle, buying behaviour patterns of rural consumers, highlighting the rampant exploitation of rural masses due to globalization. Service Providers and the Consumer worked out interplay of different service sectors and specifically talked about ways and means to redress deficiency in service sector. Food Safety and the Consumer focused on the need and importance of safe and healthy eating habits making the participants aware of the legal provisions under the law for food safety Prof. Suresh Misra, Chair Professor, CCS, IIPA Introducing the Seminar

5 Rural Consumer: Need for Protection, the First Technical Session was Chaired by Shri. Laljibhai Savaliya Advocate, Gujarat High Court and co chaired by Smt Bhanuben Babariya, MLA, Rajkot. Prof Suresh Misra in his presentation on Rural Consumers highlighted the changing consumer Prof. Suresh Misra in the First Technical session bheviour in rural areas and also described the impact of false advertisement and how the rural consumers are being exploited to a larger extent. He explained how the rural poor are being subjected to deception and exploitation in the market place and said that globalization effect can be seen in all parts of the world and rural sector is no exception. He said that years back the purchasing power and needs of the rural people were very limited and thus they purchased very limited articles. However, today, the scenario has changed and rural markets are now house for all sorts of products. This leads to all sort of frivolous activities and spurious goods being sold there. The other speakers were Shri B. P. Pathak, Advocate, Gujarat High Court, Rajkot; Dr Mahendrabhai Padaliya, Vice Chancellor Saurashtra University, Rajkot; Prof. R C Popat, Director, Sandipani Institute of Economic Research, Rajkot; Shri M K Damor, District Civil Supply Officer, Rajkot; Shri J N Dixit, Additional Collector, Rajkot and Shri Govindbhai Ranparia, Chairman, Gopal Milk Dairy, Rajkot. They covered various problems being faced by the rural consumers in Gujarat. The theme of the Second Technical Session was Service Providers and the Consumer. It was Chaired by Shri Hemant Buch, Senior Divisional Manager, LIC of India and Co-chaired by Shri Maheshbhai Joshi, HOD, Department of Economics, Saurashtra University, Rajkot. The speakers of the

6 session were Prof Faruq Khan, Head, Social welfare Department, Government of Gujarat, Rajkot; Shri Gunvat Gaglani, Former Divisional Manager, Oriental Insurance Company, Shri Rajeshbhai Khetani, MD, Hari Infoline, Rajkot; Shri Pareshbhai Gandha, CSD, Reliance Communication Ltd, Rajkot, Shri Bimal Dhanak, Head Consumer Care Department, Reliance Communication Ltd., Rajkot. The speakers covered various service sectors like banking, insurance, electricity, housing and how the service providers are exploiting the rural consumers. The case of telecommunications was also highlighted and how the mobile service providers are exploiting the consumers. The third Session was on Food Safety and the Consumer focusing on the need and importance of safe and healthy eating habits making the participants aware of the legal provisions under the law for food safety. Dr. Mamta Pathania, Assistant Professor Consumer Studies, CCS, IIPA, New Delhi made a presentation on Food Safety in which She explained the importance of healthy eating habits and made participants aware of the various safety myths which consumers ought to know in order to lead a healthier lifestyle. The other speakers were -Shri Iiyasbhai Khan, MD, Star Add, Rajkot, Shri Ajaybhai Patel, Director, Chitra Publicity, Ahmedabad, Shri Jhutani Saheb, Advocate Gujarat High Court, Rajkot, Shri Viashal Bhai Shah, Director, Shah Publicity, Surat. The main thrust of the programme was to acquaint the participants with the kind of problems that are faced by the consumers in various service sectors and the process of redressal of their complaints. Dr. Mamta Pathania, Assistant Professor, CCS, IIPA, in the Third Technical Session

7 On the occasion, Prof Suresh Misra, Chair Professor and Coordinator, Centre for Consumer Studies, IIPA, while addressing the participants said that the aim of the Centre is to facilitate and promote better protection of consumers rights among various section of society especially to the grass root levels. He said it is our privilege to be associated with Rajkot Saher Jilla Grahak Suraksha Mandal, Rajkot. He highlighted that educational Institutions must take a lead in consumer education. However, the management institutions all over India are concentrating on courses on consumer behaviour which teach the students how to capture the markets. Subjects like consumer protection are not their priority and hence are not at all taught by them. Even in other courses where it is taught it is merely in the form of a paper on consumer behaviour. That s why not much awareness is there even among the teachers and students. To make people aware about their consumer rights and how they can make these rights a reality we need to organize more such programmes. Dr. Mahendrabhai Padaliya, Vice Chancellor, Saurashtra University, Rajkot delivering the Valedictory Address On the concluding day, Dr Mahendrabhai Padaliya, Vice Chancellor, Saurashtra University, Rajkot graced the Valedictory Session with his presence. In his Valedictory Address he congratulated IIPA for the initiatives with regard to carrying the consumer movement forward by organizing such programmes for the welfare of consumers. Talking about the importance of C P Act he said that as the aspirations of the people have changed with the changing economy due to competition and therefore choices to consumers are numerous, be it be products or services. But due to this variety and choice, the consumers are on the other hand being exploited by the shopkeepers due to ignorance and lack of practical implementation of the

8 laws and policies. He said that the C P Act needs to be improved as the present rate of awareness in different states is not sufficient. The certificates to the participants were distributed by Dr. Mahendrabhai Padaliya, Vice Chancellor, Saurashtra University, Rajkot in the end of the session followed by a formal vote of thanks by the Shri Nileshbhai Sheth, President Rotary Club of Rajkot. The programme was appreciated by the participants, who were of the view that such programmes are useful and should be held at regular intervals. Participants in the Seminar The recommendations of the two seminars are as follows: 1 Vigorous campaign should be started to educate the consumers and create awareness about consumer rights during the Silver Jubilee year of the C P Act. 2 All stake holders should converge to create awareness and the government should play the lead role. 3 The Consumer Redressal Mechanism needs to be strengthened and more powers vested in the consumer courts to effectively implement their orders. 4 Multi media campaign in the rural areas needs to be initialized to educate the rural consumers.

9 5 Consumer Advice Centres should be set up at the district /block level to provide information to rural consumers. 6 District Forums should have the power of circuit benches and holding sittings at the tehsil /block level. 7 Consumers in Gujarat should be organized on the pattern of Amul Milk Federation which has benefitted both producers and consumers in Gujarat. 8 Various services being provided should have quality parameters so that the consumers should be aware of both quality and standards of services. 9 The Legal Metrology Act should be implemented with force to check weight and measure problem in the rural areas. 10 Problem of food adulteration should be addressed as it affects the health of the consumers and particularly the rural consumers. (Mamta Pathania) (Suresh Misra) Seminar Coordinators