Role of Consumers.

Role of Consumers.

 

Consumers now play a vital role in the present economic system of a nation because in the absence of effective demand that emanates from them the economy is likely to be collapsed. One of the most important milestones in the consumer movement in the country is the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986 to protect the interest of the consumers. It is one of the most progressive and comprehensive piece of the legislation covering all goods and services. Still many people in our country do not have the requisite knowledge of the basic rights of consumers as per the Consumer Protection Act.  Among them the rights for protection of the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to lie and property, the rights about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and the price of goods or services, the right to be assured of access to variety of goods and services at competitive prices, the right to be heard, the right to seek redressal against unfair trade or restrictive trade practices.

          Now the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or restrictive trade practices if the most important part of the Consumer’s Act. Two most popular methods of protecting consumers’ rights are (a) Redressal by the Government or other agencies and (b) ADR (Alternative Dispute Redressal). To provide cheap, speedy and summary redressal of consumer disputes, quasi-judicial bodies have been set up in each District and State and at the National Level also which are named as District Forums, State Consumer Disputes Redressal and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. Presently there are 604 District Forums and 35 State Commission.

          Now the consumers can approach to the Consumer Forum for the disputes like Consumption in case of Electricity, Telecommunication, Builder and Purchasers, Promoters, Banking Services, Sale and purchase of Consumables and any goods. They can make complain to the manufacturing companies and service providers.

          There are no legal formalities for filing the complaint. Anybody can make a complaint to the Consumer Court by writing the details on a plain sheet of paper and attaching the supporting documents like: Cash Memo, Service Contract, Guarantee or Warranty Cards which are to be submitted in the District Consumer Court. The consumers are not necessarily to go to any lawyer or professional for such legal assistance. They have every right to plead by themselves in the consumer court. Apart from the Government Redressal Agency there are several agencies which act as a Forum to mitigate consumers’ dissatisfaction against services provided by Banks, Telephone, Insurance Companies, Electricity suppliers and so on. To name a few : Ombudsman – related to Banking, SEBI – related to Shares, TRAI – related to Telephone, IRB – Insurance and etc.

          I appreciate the initiative and sincere effort of the Durgapur Consumer Association for decades together in this matter. I sincerely appreciate the service of the octogenarian Mr. T. S. Mukherjee  for his relentless service and would be happy if some young blood takes the responsibility of this Association right now so that the new responsible person can have the golden advice from Shri Mukherjee in this aspect.