Every 24th December is observed as “NATIONAL CONSUMERS DAY” with a specific theme in India. This year the National Consumers Day is celebrated with the theme “Timely Disposal of Consumers Complaint”. On this day the consumer’s protection Act 1986 was enacted on this day.
The consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986 with the objective of providing better protection of consumer’s interest. Effective safeguard are provided to the consumer, against various type of exploitations and unfair dealings, relying mainly on compensatory rather than a disciplinary or preventive approach under the Act. It applies to all goods and services unless specifically exempted, which covers the private, public and cooperative sectors. It also provides speedy and inexpensive adjudication.
The rights under the consumer Protection Act 1986 flows from the rights enshrined in Articles 14 to 19 of the Constitution of India. The Right to Information Act (RTI), which has opened up governance process of our country to the common public also has far-reaching implications for consumer’s protection.
The Act envisages the promotion and protection of following rights for the consumers:
i) Right to safety ii) Right to be informed iii) Right to Choose IV) Right to hear v) Right of Redressedvi) Right of Education.
Observance of this day provides an opportunity for individuals to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and promote the basic rights and responsibilities of all consumers.
According to a survey conducted by the Consumer Protection and Action Committee (CPAC) , out of each twenty five lakh Gujarati people ,only one consumer goes to the court to fight for his/her right. Out of six and a half crore population of the state, only twenty five to thirty approach the consumer court. Initiatives taken by CPAC to encourage and educate consumers about their rights. In Manipur also, due to lack of awareness about our rights in consumers sector we are being easily deceived &exploited by certain individual or group of people, this has been and still going on.” CONSUMERS’ CLUB” Manipur has been taking up a very proactive role to provide all the rights of consumers. In spite of their tooth and nail efforts, their toil is still not fruitful as common people are not well aware of our rights in consumer sectors. So taking the advantages of this day let us all aware about our right especially in consumer sector so that we may availall ourrights fully.
(The writer can be reached at [email protected] or at Whatapps No:9612891339)
