NATIONAL CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY

NATIONAL CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY
24 DECEMBER 2008
Every individual is a consumer, regardless of occupation, age, gender, community or religious affiliation. Consumer rights and welfare are now an integral part of the life of an individual and we all have made use of them at some or the other point in our daily routine.
Importance of the Day
In India, 24th December is observed as “National Consumer Rights Day”, since the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted on this day. The Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986 with the objective of providing better protection of consumers’ interests. The Act provides for effective safeguards to consumers against various types of exploitations and unfair dealings, relying mainly on compensatory rather than a disciplinary or preventive approach. It applies to all goods and services unless specifically exempted which covers the private, public and cooperative sectors. It also provides speedy and inexpensive adjudication.
Consumer Protection Act, 1986
The rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 flow from the rights enshrined in Articles 14 to 19 of the Constitution of India. The Right to Information Act (RTI), which has opened up governance processes of our country to the common public, also has far-reaching implications for consumer protection.
As per the Act, a 'Consumer' has been defined as:
􀂃 Any person who buys goods for consideration, and any person who uses goods with the approval of the purchaser.
􀂃 Any person, who hires any services for a consideration and any beneficiary of such services, provided the service is availed with the approval of the person who had hired the service for a consideration.
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The Act envisages the promotion and protection of the following rights of consumers:
Right to Safety
Means right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services, which are hazardous to life and property. The purchased goods and services availed of should not only meet their immediate needs, but also fulfill long term interests. Before purchasing, consumers should insist on the quality of the products as well as on the guarantee of the products and services. They should preferably purchase quality marked products such as ISI, AGMARK, etc.
Right to be Informed
Means right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices. Consumer should insist on getting all the information about the product or service before making a choice or a decision. This will enable him to act wisely and responsibly and also enable him to desist from falling prey to high-pressure selling techniques.
Right to Choose
Means right to be assured, wherever possible of access to variety of goods and services at competitive price. In case of monopolies, it means right to be assured of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price. It also includes right to basic goods and services. This is because unrestricted right of the minority to choose can mean a denial for the majority of its fair share. This right can be better exercised in a competitive market where a variety of goods are available at competitive prices.
Right to be Heard
Means that consumer's interests will be receive due consideration at appropriate forums. It also includes right to be represented in various forums formed to consider the consumer's welfare. The consumers should form non-political and non-commercial consumer organizations, which can be given representation in, various committees formed by the Government and other bodies in matters relating to consumers.
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3 “guru-mantras” or rules for consumers.
1. Never pay more than M.R.P. MRP stands for Maximum retail price, so