A Blueprint For Consumer Education

(2) There are institutes for specialised knowledge such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants, New Delhi, the Institute of Company Secretaries, New Delhi and the Institute of Cost and Works Accountant, Calcutta. These institutes should have a compulsory paper on consumerism as the candidates have to ultimately deal with consumer issues.

(3) Various chambers of commerce and trade should hold seminars and talks on current consumer issues.

(4) Financial institutions like the ICICI, IDBI and IFCI should also hold seminars and talks so that their officers are aware of the state of consumerism in India. In fact, these institutions should insist on the inclusion of a consumer cell in the assisted companies before sanctioning loans to them.

 

(5) Manufacturing and service organisations should arrange for expert lectures.

(6)It should be made compulsory for all companies listed on the stock exchange to have a consumer cell which should effectively redress consumer grievances in a month's time and not exist in name only.

As the consumer set up in this country has come about as a result of the guidelines formulated by the UN, the UN should set up consumer welfare centres here on the lines of the offices of the World Health Organisation. These centres will help in initiating interaction with international consumer agencies. There should also be wider coordination on this issue among the SAARC countries.

It is hoped that by following the above suggestions, the consumer movement in India will receive a great impetus.