Srinagar, February 23 (KNS) : A one-day awareness event on consumer rights was organised by South Asia Center for Peace and Peoples Empowerment (SACPPE), a non-profit organization in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday (February 22, 2023).
The event titled “Empowering Consumers Through Clean Energy Transitions” was attended by a large number of people, including trade union leaders, shopkeepers and the general public.
Sarfraz Nawaz Dar, a social worker in his address to the gathering said Indian democracy and its institutions have set a perfect example of inclusive growth before the world.
“Our democracy is the oldest and most vibrant democracy in the world. The government is creating new opportunities and it is right of the citizens to take advantage of these opportunities,” he said.
While highlighting the importance of having knowledge about consumer rights, he said, “Consumers have the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods so as to protect them against unfair trade practices.”
Mohammad Arif Bhat, a trade union leader said, “There are 32 government departments providing consumer services through different modes. A large number of online services have made services hassle free for consumers.”
Stating that the modern consumer protection movement has a history of over 150 years, he appealed to people from all walks of life to work in the service of the nation and build the nation with the spirit of the nation first.
“In the past few years the philosophy of consumer rights has undergone a sea change and again, governance is touted as part of the consumer movement. There is a demand to make good governance a consumer right,” Bhat added.
Umar Altaf Dar, a social activist said for an enduring consumer rights in a democratic system, the legal and institutional frameworks for the protection of consumers of goods and services that has hindered effective implementation of the international standards for consumer protection should be reformed and made proactive.
He said prosperity and progress is possible only when our goal is peace and stability. “Consumer participation in the law making process is important not only for consumer protection, but for democracy itself. Consumers have the right to Representation under the Consumer Protection Act,” Wani added.
SACPPE is a government registered, non-profit and apolitical organisation which is working for the cause of all round development of the society and promotion of education, research and learning.(KNS)