Consumers` forum demands ministry

Presently, consumer welfare is part of the ministry of food and civil supplies both at the Centre and in states.

"With the three wings clubbed under one ministry and one department, consumer welfare has been side-tracked and consumer protection has been suffering. The consumer welfare departments are also not following uniform procedures," SZCWA president D N Kishore Gupta said here in Mysore.

The SZCWA executive met in Mysore early this week and voiced concern over a lion's share of the financial support under the consumer welfare fund by the Centre going to organisations in North India., and that too those in Delhi.

Even among them, most beneficiaries were non-CVOs which have no role in consumer protection. On the other hand, CVOs struggling hard for the consumer rights were getting a raw deal. CVOs working in South India should also get a fair share in the funds allocated, Gupta said.

The executive also noted with concern the procedural delay in disposing off complaints by consumer courts, though the Consumer Protection Act laid down 90 days for their disposal. There were instances of delay by 3-4 years.

"This is mainly because 98 per cent of the cases are filed by advocates or they made their appearance for the complainant before the consumer courts. This trend should be discouraged and, CVOs and consumer activists should take the lead in filing complaints on behalf of consumers," Gupta said.

To strengthen consumer protection, the SZCWA has suggested the introduction of mobile testing laboratories to check adulteration of petroleum products and introduction of alternative disputes redressal mechanism by establishing manual (taluk) and district-level information centres, where consumers' complaints can be resolved through conciliation and thus reduce pressure on consumer courts as in Andhra Pradesh. It has also recommended on-line booking of LPG supply.

Introduction of consumer movement as part of the curriculum from 6th to 10th standards, starting of short-term and diploma courses in consumer education covering self-help groups, sthree shakthi groups and youth wings, encouraging consumer clubs and conducting inter-state consumer welfare programmes in association with the government officials are among its recommendations.