Write down the national and international organisation of consumer protection
National and International Organization:
The first consumer organisation/council was established in Madras under the leadership of Sri Rajagopalachari. The growth of this organisation was slow till 1980. After 1980, this organisation gained momentum. There are now about 230 consumer organisations in the country of which 45% are in Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu which occupied the second, third and fourth places respectively. Surprisingly, in the largest State of U.P. these organisations are only four in number. The town-wise analysis reveals that Delhi with 14 organisation occupies the first place, followed by Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bombay. Though the function of these organisations is similar, an insight into the working of at least some of the organisation makes us to understand the working of such organisation.
1. Consumers Council of India, New Delhi: This Institution was established in 1964 at the initiative of Planning Commission. The regular reports are published by the institution after careful study of various problems and issues. The following are the important objectives of the institution:
(a) To study the problems of consumers to find
such solutions. (b) To organize consumer protection efforts, to provide help
and encouragement.
(c) To publish magazines related with consumers. (d) To undertake consumer education schemes. (e) To provide guidance to the Government and other organisations to prepare and to implement consumer protection (Law/Acts).
(1) To provide help in the standardization of consumable products.
"Indian Consumer" magazine is published by the Council in English and Hindi.
2. Consumer Guidance Society of India, Bombay: Consumer Guidance Society of India, Bombay was established in 1966. The following are the main objectives of this Institution (a) To create awareness among consumers regarding their results, powers and responsibilities. (b) To provide standard products in order to protect their health and safety. (c) To see that only standard products (ISI marked) will be made available in the markets. (d) To see that the customers get proper return for the money spend by them. (e) To educate customers by organizing exhibitions, publications, speeches, meetings, seminars, articles, radio, video cassettes, television, etc. "Keema" magazine is published by the Consumer Guidance Society.
(1) To pay proper attention towards consumer complaints. (g) To protect consumers from high prices, overcharging, underweight, adulteration, etc. (h) To represent consumers on Government and other organisations and councils.
3. Consumers Association of Eastern India, Calcutta: This Association was established in 1965 at Calcutta with the following objectives: (a) To encourage testing of consumable products. (b) To study needs and requirements of consumers. (c) To provide guidance to the consumers regarding graded and standard goods. (d) To establish co-operation between customers and manufacturers. (e) To make representation on Government and grade institutions.
4. The Housewives Consumer Organisation, Vasco-da-Gama (GOA): This organisation was established in 1969 with the following objectives: (a) To create awareness among Assembly, Government Departments, Manufacturers organisations regarding housewives’ reactions. (b) To help in the reduction of cost-of-living expenditure. (c) To protect the rights of consumers. (d) To provide useful information (about consumers) to the members. (e) To co-operate with other organisations.
5. Consumers' Association, Calcutta: Consumers Association was established in 1971 at Calcutta to solve day-to-day problems faced by the consumers.
The following are the other objects of the Association: (a) To establish central organisations in order to solve the problems of the consumers. (b) To provide guidance to the consumers regarding grading, availability, prices of the products. (c) To protect the consumers and to create awareness.
by organizing meetings, seminars/workshops,
etc. (d) To conduct research on the problems faced by the consumers. (e) To
keep watch on the prices, grades and standard of the products available in the
market.
6. All-India Consumer Association, Pune (Grahek Panchayat, Pune) : Grahek Panchayat has started its work in September 1974. The important between the manufactures and the distributors in order to have social and objectives of the Panchayat are as under (a) To establish co-ordination economic equality. (b) To provide goods at fair and reasonable prices. (c) To encourage the production of essential goods. (d) To educate the consumers and to make them aware about their wants. (e) To protect and to safeguard the rights of the consumers. (f) To create awareness amongst customer regarding their rights, powers, etc. (h) To take steps against dishonest methods and practices: over pricing, adulteration, duplicate products, illegal donations, etc. (i) To redress the complaints of the consumers. (in) To create confidence amongst customers and to encourage social reforms.
7. Consumer Education and Research Centre: March 23, 1978 is the historical date in the history of consumer movement in India. It is on this date the above center came into existence with the efforts of four eminent personalities - Prof. Manubhai Shah. Prof. Ramesh Bhatt, Shri. K.G. Munshi and Shri. A.C. Bhatt, since then it is making strenuous efforts in solving the problems of consumers. This Association was started with a capacity to spend Rs. 250 only on consumer welfare, which has now reached to Rs. 8-10 lakhs per year. This center has also established a library which will be of use to the consumers. The center is successful in dealing with a number of complaints like short weights, death claims of widows by LIC, etc. A magazine "Consumer Confrontation" is also brought out by the center to educate the consumers.
8. Consumer Guidance Society of India: The oldest and the pioneer institution to launch consumer movement in the country was Consumer Guidance Society of India, which was launched in 1966 by nine ordinary middle class housewives and some social workers. By 1984 the membership has reached to 2500 with branches at Hyderabad, Pune, Kottayam and Trichur. its activities include: (i) introducing household products like masalas and foodgrains and testing of small household appliances like electric irons, stoves, immersion heaters, pressure cooker, etc. (ii) investigate the complaints of foreign buyers of Indian goods. (iii) creates awareness among consumers with the magazine 'Kemet' a monthly. (iv) represents on various official and non-official bodies at national and international levels of the Indian Federation of Consumers Organisation in Delhi.
9. Karnataka Consumer Service Society: Bangalore has been useful work in consumer education through schools & mass Radio. Cinema and T.V.
10. Consumer Forum in New Delhi: has been educating consumers about spurious & adulterated goods through posters, exhibitions and literature, etc.
Other Agencies:
These include Women's organisations like Saheli in New Delhi and Shir Shakti Sangha tana in Hyderabad, newspapers which have started publishing the grievances of public on various matters with answers/replies from the concerned officials. Many of the newspapers contain columns like "Your Problems", "Urgent action please", etc. A plethora of articles on the Rights and Difficulties of Consumers have been published in the Telugu Newspaper "Andhra Jyoti" for about 3 to 4 months. A seminar on the Rights of Consumers was organized by the Samo paper in Vijayawada on March 6th, 1989 with Prof. Manubhai Shah of CERC, Ahmedabad, Shri Pandur Ranga Sarma, Director, MRTP, Shri Parigi Vasanth Kumar of Consumer Education Centre, Hyderabad.
International Consumer Organisation: Consumer movement began at the end of the 19th century. In 1890 many consumer organisations were established. But this movement was really started after the Second World War. In order to face the problems of shortages and increasing prices, many consumer organisations came into existence. Most of the consumer organisations were established during 1945-1960. In 1960, America, England, Australia, Netherlands and Belgium these five consumer organisations came together and established International Consumer Organisations:
The following are the main objects of the International Consumer Organisation (1) To provide help and to encourage the organisational work of consumer organisations in the world. (2) To provide the assistance to the Government for efforts taken for the protection of consumers. (3) To encourage interchange of comparative testing of consumer goods and (4) To provide international co-operation about consumer education and protection and to collect and to disseminate the information about Consumer Protection Acts in the whole world. (5) To organize seminars, workshops, meetings for national consumer organisations in order to discuss the problems faced by the consumers and to find out solutions. (6) To publish useful information about the consumers with a view to maintain relations with international organisations in order to solve problems on international front. (7) To provide technical assistance and encouragement to the programmed of consumer education and protection of developing countries through UNO.
This organisation is non-political. It functions independently in the field of consumer protection, consumer education and competitive testing of consumer goods and services. The object of the organisation is not to make profits. This organisation functions with the object of sharing benefits of research conducted by different countries. The Consumers' Gatherings are held every two years in different countries. Such gatherings are important from the point of view of national and international problems of the consumers.
Letter A Magazine containing a Report about
the working of the publications of the Organisations are as under (1) I0CU's
News organisation). (2) International Consumer (Quarterly) (3) Consumer Review
(Laws related consumers, technical and other information) (4) Consume Directory
(5) Other booklets and Special Publications
represents consumers organisational at international level. It encourages These publications are published in English. This organisation consumer education.
Other International Organisations: In addition to IOCU some other Committee or Consumer Matter (Denmark. Finland, Iceland. Notary and organisations are as under (1) Caribbean Consumer Council, (2) Nordic Sweden), (3) Consumer Organisation of European Economic Community countries (Bureau European Des Unions De Commuters) (4) European Economic Commissions independent branch for the protection of consumers.
The First American Consumer Law was introduced in 1784. Today U.S.A. is by far advanced in the field of consumer protection. Many other countries like U.K. Sweden have rendered Yeoman's service to their customers. Making Consumerism Effective. The following suggestions may be adopted for making the efforts of voluntary organisations a success in protecting the consumers:
1. Increase in Grants: Grants may be increased to these organisations on the basis of their efforts.
2. Establishment of laboratories for testing: The government must encourage the establishment of laboratories for testing the quality of the products.
3. Holding meeting to educate customers: Voluntary organisations should organize meetings from time to time in different parts of the town and educate the consumers on the products which are entering the markets.
4. Undertaking payments of bills: These organisations, can be of use to consumers for saving time and efforts. Some of the young unemployed people from these organisations undertake the payment of bills of members.
5. Dialogue with business community: These
organisations need to have a dialogue with business community for preventing
unfair trade practices.
6. Convening forums for complaints: Involvement of social clubs like Rotary, Jaycees. Lions in consumers protection activities is desirable. Since these organisations comprise of many of the affluent people their efforts will definitely pay rich dividends. These organisations can convene 'Forums are complaints' where the grievances of the consumers may be ventilated and necessary action may be taken.
Conclusion: It is important to note that there has been a tremendous development in the awareness of consumers since the establishment of various consumer organisations and passing of Consumer Protection Act, 1986.