Promoting consumer protection: Steps and Schemes

Promoting consumer protection: Steps and Schemes

Question: Consumer protection is of critical importance. Discuss the steps and schemes taken by the Indian government to ensure consumer protection.

- Conference of State Food Ministers organised and integrated the action plan on tackling food inflation adopted in July 2014

- Potatoes and onions were notified as essential commodities so governments can impose stock control orders on commodities and follow anti-hoarding measures

- Price reporting centres increased in number from 57 to 64 to strengthen price monitoring of 22 essential commodities by the Ministry

- To ensure the availability of fruits and vegetables at affordable prices to consumers and wider selling options to farmers, there was delisting of fruits and vegetables from the APMC Act in Delhi

- Following a 360 degree review of the Consumer Protection Act, amendments were made to ensure quick redressal of consumer grievances and enable e-filing of cases

- Central Consumer Protection Authority has been proposed for investigating unfair trade practices and initiating class action, order, recall or replacement of products which are defective

- Joint campaign was organised with Health, Financial and other services departments for more consumer awareness under the multimedia campaign Jago Grahak Jago

- Inter Ministerial Group of key sectors which matter to consumers was set up to ensure policy coherence and coordinated action on consumer advocacy apart from an Inter Ministerial Committee for handling problems such as misleading ads and unfair trade practice

- A dedicated and comprehensive portal www.gama.gov to help consumers to register their grievances against misleading advertisements (GAMA) was rolled out. 6 key sectors namely food and agriculture, heath, education, real estate, transport and financial services have been included for this purpose.

- To provide numerous consumer services in one go, Grahak Suvidha Kendras launched in six locations: Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Patna and Delhi in March 2015. Such centres will be established in every State in a phased manner.

Facts and Stats

- 100 lakh tonnes of wheat were approved for sale under the Open Market Sale Scheme during 2014-2015 to control prices and protect the consumer

- 50 lakh tonnes of additional rice was released through TPDS to enhance supply of wheat during the lean period and to moderate prices