Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Dec 24: Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) and Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon today stressed on launching mass awareness campaign to educate people about their consumer rights, saying that knowledge of rights guarantees their protection.
Mr. Akhoon was speaking at a function organised to mark National Consumer Day-2012 by Consumer Protection Organization (CPO) J&K in collaboration with the Directorate of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Jammu at Government Women College, Parade, Jammu today.
Highlighting the significance of consumer rights, the Minister said that every individual of the society has to share his responsibility in safeguarding consumer rights. He also stressed for involvement of college students and school children in the awareness campaign by way of conducting symposiums and debates in schools and colleges.
The Minister said that the Government was making all out efforts to enforce implementation of Consumer Protection Act in letter and spirit so that the rights of the consumers are safeguarded, adding that protecting rights of consumers was of paramount importance for the Government.
Talking to media persons on the side lines of the function, the Minister said that the amendments have already been made in the Consumers Act and it has been made more stringent to ensure that the innocent people were not cheated by the dealers, retailers or shopkeepers. He said that every dealer has been asked to keep limited stock in the godown or shops for which close vigil is being kept. He said that there will be no compromise on black marketing and profiteering.
“Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) and Right to Information (RTI) are most important tools for the consumers to safeguard their consumer rights” the Minister said and added that these Acts have been introduced by the Government to enforce transparency and accountability in the essential service providing departments.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director, CA&PD, Jammu, Parvez Ahmad Malik said that the department was leaving no stone unturned to provide better services to the people at their doorsteps. He said that every shopkeeper has to display approved rate list prominently at the shop so that the consumers after having a look will purchase the items of their choice.
The President, CPO D. R. Danish threw light on the importance of the day.
Later, the Minister distributed mementos among the girl students who took part in a symposium.
Among others Principal, Government Women College, Parade, Himla Agarwal, President, Retail Traders Association Yashpaul Gupta, Retired Session Judge Choudhary Vidya Sagar, Senior Vice President, CPO, Rtd. Col Ajaib Singh, Health Officer JMC Vinod Kumar, senior citizens, staff and students of the college attended the function.
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