March 15th was #WorldConsumerRightsDay - My letter on this topic in yesterdays DNA Bengaluru. Economics and Markets works on the principle of demand and Supply. The one demanding is termed as a consumer (direct or indirect) and the one catering to this demand is the supplier. In a level playing field both parties should have similar rights as both are equally important to keep markets buoyant. However, markets are usually highly skewed in favour of the well organised supplier leaving the consumer side to exploitation. To address this vulnerable side, on 15 March 1962, the then US President John F Kennedy gave an address to the US congress in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first world leader to speak and outline a vision of consumer rights there by laying the foundation for all Consumer movements and acts that we see today. Ever since, 15 March has been marked as a day to promote and raise global awareness about consumer rights. Most consumer acts reinforce 8 fundamental rights, the right to: Satisfaction of basic needs, Safety, Be informed, Choose, Be heard, Redress, Consumer Education and Healthy Environment. In simple terms, the idea of the consumer acts is to do away the dictum of Caveat Emptor (buyer beware). Most developed countries have come a long way since 1962 in enforcing tough legislation to protect consumer rights and interests. India, too, in 1986 legislated The Consumer Protection Act to protect the interests of consumers and to make provisions for dispute redressal. However the acts in our country do not seem to cater to the diverse nature of consumers. Most of the times, information is either not available or is printed in languages not relevant to the region (only English or Hindi). This not only violates the fundamental rights but also poses a serious threat to the safety of the consumers. To give some examples: safety information on gas cylinders supplied in Karnataka is only in Hindi & English! Information on Products like cold rubs and medicines sold over the counter are only in English. Lets not forget medicine minus Kannada is nothing but poison. Food products do not have information in Kannada, Banks do not have IVRs with Kannada option. Financial Inclusion is close to impossible if information and transactions do not happen in the language of the consumer. Most of the companies, when questioned, cite loop holes in packaging laws and consumer acts. It is high time the State & Central government push for stringent consumer laws. Additionally, this World Consumer Rights Day, let us demand let us demand our rights i.e. Kannada service in Karnataka. It is our right! #WorldConsumerRightsDay #WCRD2014
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:09:59 +0000
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