Consumer affairs department backs out-of-court settlements

West Bengal government's consumer affairs department is encouraging out-of-court settlements and adopting moderate methods to resolve disputes between the conflicting parties.

At an interactive session organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry(BNCCI), P K Agarwal, additional chief secretary of the department of consumers affairs said that last year around 4,000 cases had been settled by the department in this method, which took less time and was also more convenient. Consumers were a significant source for a country's gross domestic product (GDP), he added.

The state is also looking at introducing a consumer helpline within the next two months to help speedy redressal of consumers' grievances. A tender had already been floated for supply of hardware, he added. Consumer helplines have already been rolled out in six districts including Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar.

Officials were looking at catering to specific areas of conflict and grievance redressal in those districts, he added. "Such measures will help in promoting a feeling of goodwill apart from saving cost and time," he further added.