March 15 to be observed as World Consumer Day

Shimla, Mar 13 (UNI) World Consumer Day will be observed on March 15 to promote consumer awareness and disseminate information about the steps taken by the governments and NGOs involved in promoting consumer protection and welfare, a government spokesman said.

With increasing consumerism and opening up of the economy by way of liberalisation and globalisation, the protection and safeguarding of the rights of the consumer had become increasingly important, he said in a release here.

The spokesman said the government had undertaken several steps for promoting the welfare of consumers with the setting up of HP State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission at the state level and Consumer Dispute Redressal Fora at the district levels.

Since its inception, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission had received 14,932 complaints out of which 14,012 stand disposed of till date, he said.

Similarly, he said, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums received 45,949 complaints out of which 43,408 have been decided.

The spokesman said the government had also constituted HP State Consumer Protection Council to promote and protect the rights of the consumers and similar Consumer Protection Council was being constituted for each district.

To educate the school children about the Consumer Rights, Consumer Clubs of students were being formed in the schools and 100 such Consumer Clubs have already been formed, he added.

Besides, to ensure availability of essential commodities at reasonable rates, 23,344 checkings and inspections of traders were conducted and 983 written warnings were issued to the defaulters and security of Rs 4,15,468 was forfeited, during the current financial year upto January 31.

Similarly, under the Weight and Measures Act and Rules, 13,901 inspections were conducted during the current financial year and an amount of Rs 12,57,6947 was realised as Composition and Verification and Stamping fee of 4,38,145 Weights and Measures Units during 2007-08 up to January 31.

UNI AS JN SP BD1948