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Consumer Rights

Kashmir Times. Dated: 4/18/2017 12:17:12 AM

Dear Editor,
Consumer rights are now an integral part of our lives like a consumerist way of life. As a consumer, one should know how market products are constantly under-weight, of inferior quality and do not prescribe to quality standards specified by quality-control agencies. Consumers not only do not get value for their money but also often have to suffer losses and inconvenience due to market manipulations. Mahatma Gandhi said that “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work - he is the purpose of it.
We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to serve him.” India is one of the few countries in the world, which has exclusive courts for consumer redressal and is known for the rapid development of its consumers' movement. World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) is a fantastic annual celebration that unites consumers around the world. In fact the original Consumer Protection Act, 1986, was meant to ensure that the consumers themselves argue their cases in a friendly atmosphere but the experience has been different.
Despite the various check and balances put in place by various institutions, we still have crimes. The only way to stem the cases arising from newer forms of technology is through consumer education. Consumers need to understand the new technology.
—Vinod C. Dixit,
B-15 Jyot-Kalash Society,
Ahmedabad.