World Consumer Rights Day observed in Goa

Panaji, Mar 15 (UNI) Goa Civic&Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) today organised a solidarity rally and dharna on the World Consumer Rights Day.

Various consumer forums from different villages participated in the 15-day awareness programme, highlighting the theme of empowering consumers to assert rights and pursue remedies besides saying no to ''unethical'' promotion of drugs.

The activists pointed out overcharging beyond MRP of various products, including Goa dairy milk packets, diversion of domestic LPG cylinders to commercial outlets, black marketing of quota kerosene, adulteration and illegal sale of petrol and diesel, increased sale of duplicate products in exhibitions and VAT charged on goods without issue of bills.

The NGO demanded opening of a full-fledged economic offences cell by the police to tackle erring non-banking finance corporations, introduction of beat police system in all villages, promotion of road safety and traffic awareness issues, tackling of stray dogs menace, publication of citizen's charters by government departments and opening of redressal machinery.

The GOACAN also urged various political parties to include consumer issues in their respective party manifestos in the coming elections to the village panchayats and Legislative Assembly.

UNI