Minister stresses on need for effective consumer protection

Itanagar, Feb 23 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Legal Metrology and Consumer Affairs Minister C C Singpho today stressed on the need for effective implementation of consumer protection law through participation of common people, students, women, NGOs and voluntary consumer organisations.

Addressing the 17th meeting of Arunachal Pradesh State Consumer Protection Council (SCPC) at Udyog Bhavan here, the minister advocated the need for taking up computer networking projects with technical assistance of National Informatics Centre to connect all the 16 districts of the state.

He also expressed hope that with the completion of the project, people residing in remote areas of the state will be in a position to update their knowledge on consumer protection redress their grievances.

Exhorting social activists to take up issues of consumerism in order to educate and imbibe the sense of the consumer rights among the rural masses, the minister said Arunachal Pradesh has set an example before the entire nation when it comes to disposal of consumer cases.

''In terms of disposal of consumer cases, the state is leading with approximately 86 per cent in district forums. Moreover, 75 per cent of the complaints received by the State Commission have also been disposed off.

In the meeting, the minister also informed about the establishment of three more new district forums in Kurung Kumey, Dibang Valley and Anjaw districts.

Earlier in the day, secretary Legal Metrology and Consumer Affairs M Pertin said publicity and spread of consumer awareness could not be carried upto a desired target due to lack of fund and manpower and stressed on the need for allocation of separate fund.

The meeting also resolved to submit a proposal to the state for the creation of separate department for consumer affairs with separate head and budget.

UNI