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i

Evaluation of the Project Sanctioned to SAVERA for Organising an Information, Education and Communication

Programme in Katihar and Kishanganj Districts of Bihar with Financial Assistance from CWF

Sponsored by

Department of Consumer Affairs Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Government of India New Delhi

Conducted by

Centre for Consumer Studies Indian Institute of Public Administration

IP Estate, Ring Road, New Delhi

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Preface

Globalisation and liberalisation process has increased the number of consumer

related issues. The rising prosperity in the rural areas has made the rural consumers more

vulnerable to exploitation. The rural markets which were earlier ignored by most of the big

market players are now being seen as a land of great business opportunity. A number of

studies have shown that the rural markets are full of sub standard goods and duplicity of

branded goods is another major problem. The rural consumers face various problems like

adulteration, short weighing and measuring, lack of safety and quality control, unfair

warranties and guarantees, imitation, sales gimmicks and misleading advertisements.

Apart from this food adulteration and spurious drugs are causing major heath hazards.

In a country like India where a substantial number of the rural people are living

below the poverty line having high level of unemployment and low literacy level, consumer

awareness continues to remain low. Education is a life long process of constantly acquiring

relevant information, knowledge and skills. Consumer education is an important part of this

process and is a basic consumer right. The most important step in consumer education is

awareness of consumer rights. However, consumer education is incomplete without the

responsibilities and duties of consumers, and this influences individual behaviour to a great

extent. One of the major hindrances in the consumer movement in the country is the lack

of awareness among the consumers. The consumers apart from being unorganized do not

have the mechanism to understand their rights and responsibilities No doubt various

methods are being used to spread awareness but still a lot needs to be done. Various

stake holders particularly the grass root organizations need to work together to promote

consumer education.

The report is an evaluation of the project for organizing Information, Education and

Communication Programmes by SAVERA (Society for Advancement of Villagers

Empowerment and Rehabilitation of All) in Katihar and Kishanganj districts of Bihar. The

Project was for organizing Information, Education and Communication programmes by

SAVERA and funded by the Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI. The evaluation was

done by the Centre for Consumer Studies, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New

Delhi.

We are thankful to the Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI for giving the

evaluation study to the Centre for Consumer studies, IIPA, New Delhi. We are thankful to

the management of SAVERA for providing the necessary documents, records and

communications relating to the project and also giving time for discussions and meetings.

iii

We are also thankful to various district officials, school headmasters, teachers and other

functionaries for their cooperation and help in conducting the study. Without the support of

the villagers of the two districts this study could not have been completed. We are thankful

for their support and hospitality extended to us during the field survey.

The efforts put in by Dr. Amit Kumar Singh, Shri Virendra Misra, Shri Pankaj Singh

and Shri Ashutosh Kumar, Research Officers, Centre for Consumer Studies, IIPA is duly

acknowledged. Inspite of several constraints they completed the field work and data

tabulation well in time. Thanks are due to Deepa Bisht for the secretarial assistance

rendered in bringing out this report.

Date: 12.05.2011 Place: New Delhi

Prof. Suresh Misra Chair Professor & Coordinator Centre for Consumer Studies

IIPA, New Delhi

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CONTENTS

Sl. No. Page No.

1. Preface i-ii

2. Chapter 1

Introduction 1 - 15

3. Chapter 2

Analysis of Cross Section of Village Respondents

16 - 44

4. Chapter 3

Analysis of Responses of Officials and Panchayati Raj Functionaries

45 - 58

5. Chapter 4

Findings and Recommendations

59 - 63

6. Annexure I 64-77

7. Annexure II 78

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1

Introduction 1.1 Introduction

Consumerism is a process through which the consumers seek

redress, restitution and remedy for their dissatisfaction and frustration with

the help of their organised and unorganised efforts and activities. It is in fact

a social movement seeking to protect the rights of the consumers in relation

to the producers of goods and providers of services. In its wider perspective

it is an item on the agenda of administrative reforms for greater

accountability, responsiveness and transparency through the technique of

decentralisation, debureaucratization and devolved planning process. It’s a

part of the ongoing debate for good governance which recognizes the Right

to Information as a prerequisite. In many of the developed countries

consumerism has over the time developed into a sound force designed to

aid and protect the consumers by exerting legal, moral and economic

pressure on producers of goods and providers of the services.

A large number of studies have shown that due to lack of education

and information the exploitation of the consumers is rampant. Therefore,

consumer education and awareness are very important elements in dealing

with consumer protection. The present situation calls for greater efforts to

increase public knowledge and public participation, as consumer protection

to a large extent depends upon the support of an informed and alert public

opinion, governmental and non-governmental organizations. The consumers

need to be organised and empowered through education and awareness

process.

Growing choice and increasingly complex products and services

mean that getting the best deal can be a real challenge. Information on its

own is not enough. Skills are needed to make best use of the mass of

information available and the confidence to be able to deal with problems as

they arise. In the light of these challenges, the need for effective consumer

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education has never been greater. Throughout our lives, we develop skills

and seek information to help us deal with the day-to-day business of living.

We learn and use these skills in a wide range of situations. When they are

developed in a consumer context and applied to information about goods

and services, we call the process as consumer education.

Consumer education delivers practical skills and knowledge that are

relevant to everyone and helps consumers to get the most from today’s

competitive markets where business work hard for their customers and

respond to their needs. The importance of consumer education is

increasingly being recognized. It should be an integral part of the formal

education and lifelong learning programmes. Consumer education can help

markets work well for consumers and also help to protect vulnerable

consumers, prevent consumer detriment and combat social exclusion.

Consumer education is thus a potent tool for empowering consumers and

empowered consumers are knowledgeable, confident, assertive and self

reliant.

As a tool for empowerment, consumer education is central to make

markets work well for consumers. Business can reap real benefits from an

active involvement in consumer education, improved communication with

more discerning customers and quicker, easier, and less expensive

solutions to problems where they arise. For this the consumer protection law

should set minimum standards for quality and safety and ensure that

consumers have access to updated and quality information. Thus to be

effective, consumer education initiatives should be focussed on clear

priorities and targeted at those most in need. By deciding priorities in this

way, consumer education can bring real benefits for vulnerable and socially

excluded consumer by offering the opportunity to gain valuable life skills.

1.2 Awareness and Education

To meet the challenges, consumers must arm themselves against

problems faced in the market since they are not automatically protected by

the market. Therefore, a consumer’s best defence is knowledge of his/her

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rights as a consumer and of the remedies which exist to resolve these

problems when they occur. The various stakeholders in the consumer

protection movement need to work out a strategy to address the problems of

the consumers. Creating awareness and educating the consumers will go a

long way in helping the consumer to understand what constitutes consumer

protection, what is the need to know about one’s rights and how to redress

one’s grievances if anything goes wrong. Moreover an educated and

informed consumer will be able to take a rational decision while buying a

product or availing a service.

1.3 Profile of Indian Consumers

Eventhough, consumers are seen as a homogeneous entity yet in the

Indian context consumers can be broadly divided into two; urban and rural.

Within these two broad divisions the rich/poor and literate/non-literate divide

is very apparent. The profile of a consumer depends to a large extent on the

complexity of the social structure. The urban consumption patterns are seen

to be mainly unsustainable, as they are largely market dependent. If a basic

commodity like water is taken as an example, it would become clear, as to

how the urban and the rural consumption habits differ. In the urban context,

water is saleable commodity often marketed as “filtered” or “bottled”. In the

rural areas consumer education will include strategies of hygienic and

proper maintenance of rivers and wells and other sources of water.

Similarly rich and poor will have different connotations in the urban

and rural contexts. The urban consumer has to be educated to be “market

smart” and aware of hidden ‘premises’ whereas the rural consumer has to

be educated about resource maintenance and environment preservation.

The rich urban consumers have to learn about dangers of excessive and

wasteful consumption patterns. They have to be aware of their dependence

upon the rural sector and its consequent exploitation, if their consumption

habits are not selective. The rural consumers have to be educated about the

possible exploitation of their resources and the subsequent detrimental

changes in their life styles, if they are not protective of their environment and

yield to the pressure that booming urban markets exert upon rural areas.

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Consumer education should foster mutual awareness and

understanding between the urban and rural sectors as well as rich and poor

sections of society. Consumer education can strengthen the bonds that exist

between various social segments and minimize the divisive factors. The

market and the industry seek to widen the gaps that exist and seek to rule

consumers through fostering divisions. The Consumer education

programmes whether at school and college levels or through government or

NGO channels should seek to remove these distances.

An aware consumer of any age, gender, class and background has

certain rights as well as responsibilities. Each segment has certain

responsibility towards others. All round sustainable development is possible

only if each consumer segment fulfils its duties and responsibilities

sincerely. If we want this movement to grow, more people will have to come

in. Greater consumer vigilance and action alone can help improve the

situation. But such efforts are not fruitful unless consumers themselves are

aware of their rights and responsibilities. Under these circumstances,

consumer literacy is the need of the hour, with special attention to low

income groups particularly living in the rural areas who suffer the most.

1.4 Need for Awareness among Rural Consumers

A change in consumption patterns and access to communication

media have made rural market a vital cog in the sales-growth wheel,

especially with the plateau in demand for many categories of products and

services in the urban markets. Inspite of increasing number of rural

consumers, provisions for consumer protection and welfare are often based

on the general standard and circumstances of those living in big cities and

towns. Although consumers as a whole are in an equal bargaining position,

there are certain recognizable groups which are disadvantaged in more

ways than the others. Disadvantaged consumers are those who are less

able to assert their rights and rural consumers comprise one such group.

Rural consumers remain disadvantaged as their right to information, choice,

redress, and consumer education are not sufficiently fulfilled. Consequently

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such consumers need support in maintaining their rights so that they can

bargain equally with the producers or the service providers.

There are significant differences in the levels of awareness and

literacy among the rural and urban consumers. Per capita income in rural

area is half of that of urban areas. Value for money is more important to

rural people. They buy small quantities and more frequently. Urban people

often do not display brand loyalty whereas rural people display brand

stickiness. Due to lower literacy levels and less exposure among rural

people, touch and feel, seeing is believing and one-on-one communication

works well. The most common below-the-line communication platforms in

rural markets include haats, melas, mandis and other places of public

gathering. While communicating with the rural masses it is required that the

message delivered should be simple and direct to be effective.

As a result of globalization and liberalization the rural market in India

is the largest potential market in the world. Thus there are vast opportunities

for rural marketing. With the growth in rural markets and due to poor

knowledge about their rights and lack of skills to take a rational decision

based on information about the product or services, the rural consumers in

India are being exploited in many ways. The manufactures and traders take

advantage of the condition of the rural consumers. It has been observed that

the condition of the rural consumers is deplorable, because they are largely

exploited in the rural markets on account of lack of competition among the

sellers, low level of awareness and limited choice. The rural consumer has

been made to endure sub-standard products and services, adulterated

foods, short weights and measures, spurious and hazardous drugs,

exorbitant prices, unfulfilled manufacturing guarantees, lack of safety and

quality control in appliances and equipments, electrical and mechanical,

unfair warranties and guarantees, imitation, sales gimmicks and

unreasonable pricing and host of other ills. The rural consumers who

generally depend on weekly markets to purchase essential things are often

cheated due to lack of choice.

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The rural consumers in India are generally ignorant and they are also

unorganized. Thus, they are exploited by the manufacturers, traders and the

service providers in different way. They are not only scattered but also

diverse and heterogeneous. The government and its various agencies need

to counter the misleading claims of the producers/ service providers. Jago

Grahak Jago is an important means to communicate with the consumers.

However, to communicate effectively with the rural audiences, we need to

move further. It is important to understand the aspirations, fears and hopes

of rural consumers. The NGOs have an important role to play in consumer

education and empowerment at the grassroot level. However, the task is

gigantic and therefore, it is time to involve the local level

institutions/organisations to reach the rural consumers. As the largest

consumer base is in the rural areas, protecting the rural consumer has to be

a priority in any strategy to protect the consumers.

1.5 Report of the Working Group

The report of the Working Group1 constituted by the Department of

Consumer Affairs in the first volume has also recognized the need for

creation of awareness among consumers about their rights in the entire

country. The report also recognizes that the people living in the remote and

rural areas do often become victims of unlawful trade practices being

adopted by wrongdoers due to lack of education and poor knowledge. To

give impetus to the consumers’ right of education and awareness a national

awareness programme requires to be launched aggressively at the district

and sub-district levels with the help of State Government, Educational

Institutions, Local VCOs, Self Help Groups, PRIs and Urban Local Bodies

(ULBs) with particular emphasis and focus on rural areas and most

vulnerable sections of consumers. Consumer awareness and education

needs to be pursued with appropriate plan/schemes and activities designed

on the principle of PPP and using the entire medium available for the

purpose.

1 Department of Consumer Affairs, Report of the Working Group on Consumer Protection, Vol I pp.

28-31, DCA, GoI

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For Consumer education there is a need for a holistic policy and

better re-sourcing of activities geared towards consumer education. There

are many opportunities for delivering consumer education and lot of good

work has already been done across the country. There is a need to find out

how all the present initiatives relate to each other. There is also a need to

look at best international practices. Consumer education is still a poorly

understood concept. A coordinated approach is needed to get the best from

all involved. The main stakeholders – government departments, industry,

consumer groups, education and advice providers, interest groups and

community agencies – need to work together.

Some of the steps identified by the Working Group on Consumer Education are:

To begin with we should target particular groups of the population and prioritise the needs of those with specific gaps.

One needs to ensure that consumer education is accessible, appropriate, flexible, adaptable and relevant.

There is a need for introducing consumer education in the basic curricula of the education system.

Strengthen the consumer club scheme with coverage of 20,000 Colleges and 50,000 High/Senior Secondary Schools by the end of Eleventh Plan.

Educational programmes need to be flexible and responsive in nature. Consumer education can be made more relevant when linked to different situations such as at school, at home, while in a public place, etc. Locally, peer education can be an effective tool. Parent education programs and family support programmes can help parents in good decision making on behalf of their wards.

An effective consumer education programme should also cover training of teachers belonging to schools, colleges and universities to enhance their exposure to content and ideas relevant for consumer education.

Consumer education programmes should be flexible in nature – able to respond to the needs of specific groups of consumers.

Key community figures can also provide consumer education, in the form of peer education.

Effective consumer awareness efforts depend on the participation of individuals and organizations from various walks of life. The media have a strong role to play, as do community organizations, educational institutions, VCOs and religious groups.

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It is further strongly recommended that a system needs to be evolved at the Planning Commission level for the transfer of 20 per-cent of the Publicity budget of the Central Ministries to DCA to facilitate its task of Consumer education and awareness.

Consumers in rural areas are less aware of their rights than the urban compatriots. Hence a concerted effort may be made to rope in organized groups like Self-Help Groups/ Women associations/ student teacher community etc. to reach out to people in rural areas.

Existing advocacy initiatives under the CWF should be continued and strengthened.

1.6 Recommendation of Standing Committee Further the recommendations contained in the 20th Report of the

Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (14th

Lok Sabha) on the subject “Consumer Movement in the Country” states that

the Department of Consumer Affairs should take the desired initiatives to

involve Panchayati Raj Institutions in various programmes related to

consumer awareness. The Committee further felt that the best forum to

educate the rural masses about their rights as consumers as well as the

techniques to redress their grievances is the meetings of the Gram Sabha.

There is no doubt that unless the consumer awareness is taken to the

grassroot level not much can be achieved as India still lives in the rural

areas. Therefore, there is a need to involve local institutions in the rural

areas particularly the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the consumer

movement.

1.7 Evaluation of the Project sanctioned to SAVERA

The evaluation of the project sanctioned to SAVERA for organising

information, education and communication programme in Kathiar and

Kishanganj district of Bihar with financial assistance from Consumer Welfare

Fund was carried out by the Centre for Consumer Studies, Indian Institute of

Public Administration, New Delhi on the request of the Department of

Consumer Affairs, GoI. The project is being executed by M/s SAVERA,

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(Society for Advancement of Villagers Empowerment and Rehabilitation of

All). Under the project, awareness camps were organized at Panchayat,

Block and District levels. The impact evaluation study focussed on the

outcome of the consumer awareness in the proposed areas on the whole.

The study has examined the usefulness of the project, impact of the

awareness programmes organised by SAVERA and the capability of

SAVERA to execute such projects.

1.8 About the SAVERA Project

“SAVERA” (Society for Advancement of Villagers Empowerment and

Rehabilitation of All), D-17A, Nanhe Park, Delhi had submitted a proposal

for financial assistance from Consumer Welfare Fund for organizing an

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programme in Katihar and

Kishanganj districts of Bihar at an estimated cost of ` 39.93 lakhs (Rupees

thirty nine lakh ninety three thousand only). The same was approved by the

Department vide its letter No. O-11011/ 56/ 2006-CWF dated June 14, 2007.

Accordingly SAVERA was required to conduct an IEC programme in the two

districts of Bihar viz: Katihar and Kishanganj for strengthening consumer

movement at grassroots and to set-up a Consumer Counselling Committees

at village and block level. In furtherance of the above sanction letter the first

MoU was signed between SAVERA and DCA, GoI on August 2007. The

breakup of the activities to be carried out under the project was as follow:

Sl.No Item Quantity 1. Total Panchayat Level programme 200 2. Total Block Level Programme 80 3. Total District Level Programme 5 Total 285

In continuation of the above sanction, SAVERA submitted another

proposal for additional financial assistance of ` 16,73,000/- (Rupees sixteen

lakh seventy three thousand only) on the ground that the financial

assistance approved does not have any provision for publicity which is an

important part of the project. Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI approved

` 13,20,000/- (Rupees thirteen lakh and twenty thousand only) as grant-in-

10

aid to SAVERA for meeting the expenses of the publicity material.

Accordingly, a sum of ` 12,09,000/- (Rupees twelve lakh nine thousand

only) (13,20,000-1,11,000 already sanctioned for training material and audio

visual equipment cost) as grant-in-aid to SAVERA for meeting the expenses

of the publicity material of the above mentioned project was sanctioned vide

Letter No. O-11011/56/2006-CWF dated 28-12-2007/ 1-1-2008. After the

sanction letters dated 14-6-2007 & 28-12-2007/ 1-1-2008 were issued, a

fresh modified MoU for the project was entered on January 15, 2008.

As per the MoU the primary objective of the project was to take steps

to enhance awareness among consumers in the two districts and also to set

up consumer counselling committees at village and block levels to serve as

resource centers for consumers seeking information and guidance. The

organisation was supposed to perform any or all of the following functions,

as the Monitoring Committee may direct:

i. To impart consumer education to create awareness.

ii. To identify and disseminate best practices in the field of consumer protection.

iii. Sponsor/ Organize seminars/ workshops/conferences etc. on consumer related issues at village /block /district levels.

iv. To set consumer counselling committees at village/block level.

v. Any other activity.

To conduct the above activities a grant of ` 52.02 lakhs (Rupees fifty

two lakhs two thousand only) was disbursed to SAVERA in four equal

instalments. Initially the project was for a period of one year from the date of

signing of the agreement i.e. 2007-2008 which could be further extended by

mutual written consent. The project was monitored by the District Collector.

The calendar activities were circulated in advance to Collector and the

Collector had to send concurrent evaluation report on the project activities to

the Department of Consumer Affairs for release of next instalment. For the

proper monitoring of the project SAVERA was also required to send a

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monthly report of activities and a detailed annual performance cum activity

report at the end of project to the Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI.

1.9 Reasons for Delay in Completion of the Project

As per the MoU, SAVERA was to execute the project within a time

span of one year starting from August 2007. However, various activities

were spread over a period of three years i.e. from 2007 to 2010 as per the

list of programmes conducted by SAVERA (Annexure I). The programmes

started from 24th December 2007 and continued till 15th March, 2010.

SAVERA claims that they completed the required 285 programmes within

the stipulated time frame of 250 working days but these programmes were

spread over a period of three years.

Grant Received from Ministry

Sl. No.

Date of Grant

released on

Purpose Amount

1. 21/06/2007 For documentary and Programme

10,00,000.00

2. 10/01/2008 For Publicity Materials 12,09,000.00

3. 10/10/2008 For programme 10,00,000.00 4. 30/11/2009 For programme 19,93,000.00 According to SAVERA delay in release of grant was the major reason

for delay in completion of the project. After the completion of programmes

SAVERA used to send the performance report on time to the respective

District Magistrate’s Office but there was undue delay on the part of DM to

send it back to the Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI which resulted in

late submission of utilization certificates and hence delayed release of the

installments from the Ministry. Though SAVERA received the sanctioned

amount in four installments as per the MoU but the last installment was

released by the Department of Consumer Affairs only on 30th November,

2009. As a result they were not able to conduct the programmes within the

stipulated time frame and the project was extended till March 15, 2010.

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1.10 Techniques used by SAVERA for Generating Awareness

To achieve the objectives the techniques /methods used by SAVERA

were Prabhat Pheri (rally), lecture, screening of documentary film, street

play (nukkad natak), and organising cultural programmes. Duration of the

programme was of half day in each village. The villagers were informed in

advance about the date and time of the half day consumer awareness camp

to be organised in their villages and all the villagers were requested to

attend the programme. Representatives of panchayat, schools and local

officials were also requested to attend the programme. Women and school

children were especially encouraged to participate in the programme in large

number.

In most of the villages, the programme started with a consumer

awareness rally and the participants of this rally were mostly school children,

women and SAVERA personnel. Usually the rally started from the schools

and passed through the lanes of the village. In most of the villages the

school was chosen as the venue for the programmes. The choice of the

school as the venue was a good idea mainly because of its accessibility and

also that most of the villages knew about its location. The rally was followed

by lectures. The topics of the lectures related to the various issues of

consumer protection and awareness. The topics covered in the programmes

related to basic information about Consumer Protection Act and Rules,

defective goods and deficient services, deceptive practices by traders,

general mistakes made by common man and tips for being a smart and alert

consumer. After the lectures, cultural programmes were organised for the

benefit of the participants. Through the medium of singing and other cultural

activities the message of Consumer Welfare was passed on to the villagers.

Artists in these programmes were mostly locals who used local dialects to

spread the consumer awareness messages. It was an easy form of

communications. Subsequently, villagers were also shown documentary

films prepared by SAVERA titled “Jagruk Upbhokta Surakshit Upbhokta”.

The documentary depicted the day to day common problems faced by the

consumers and provided remedies available to the consumers. The

13

documentary was in Hindi with Bhojpuri dialect. Local problems and issues

were highlighted in the documentary. The documentary has been seen by

the research team and is well made, informative, educative and effective. At

some places Nukkad Nataks and Puppet shows were also used to spread

the message. A Pamphlet in Hindi published by SAVERA containing

information on consumer awareness was also distributed to the villagers. It

contained relevant information regarding consumer rights, machinery for

redressal of consumer grievances and where to approach in case of

problem. It provided relevant information to consumers.

1.11 Research Methodology of the Evaluation Study

The evaluation study has been carried out with the help of both

primary and secondary sources. Discussions were held with SAVERA

officials in their office at Purnia. The documents and records were also

examined. The major target groups of the awareness programme were the

villagers, panchayat officials, students, teachers and headmasters of the

school where programmes were conducted. The interviews were conducted

with the help of structured questionnaire consisting of close ended

questions. Two separate questionnaires were prepared one for the villagers

and another for government/ panchayat officials. Discussions were also held

with the local village and block officials. District officials were also

approached for information.

The major objective of the Evaluation study was to assess the level of

knowledge acquired by the villagers as well as the quality, effectiveness and

benefits of the awareness programmes conducted by SAVERA in the first

phase. The respondents were asked simple questions related to various

issues regarding the awareness programmes. The information collected

through the questionnaire was analysed with the help of simple statistical

techniques, tabulated and interpreted and is presented in a report forum.

The Report is divided into four chapters.

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1.12 Study Area of the Evaluation Study

Districts Covered in the Field Survey

Bihar

As per the data provided by M/s SAVERA and the project proposal,

the awareness programmes were conducted in 2 districts of Bihar. The

programmes were organized in all the 19 Blocks of the two Districts.

However, due to constraint of time and manpower it was difficult to conduct

the study of all the 19 Blocks to assess the impact and outcome of these

awareness programmes. Therefore, to collect the primary data, random

sampling technique was used and sample blocks were selected for the

survey. In the first step 5 blocks of each district were chosen for the study.

The Blocks were selected keeping in view the geographical spread of the

sample area so as to cover all the parts of respected Districts. Thus more

than 50 percent of the Blocks constituted the sample size. In the second

step four villages from each Block were selected randomly. Again at the

village level samples were selected from two categories: (i) 20 villagers were

approached to collect information through one set of structured schedules

and (ii) 5 village representatives from each village, preferably panchayat

Kishanganj

Katihar

15

officials and school teachers who attended the programmes were also

interviewed with the second set of questionnaire to have their opinion about

the quality and requirements of this type of awareness programmes.

Therefore a total of 1000 persons were interviewed from the two districts.

The sample selection procedure is presented in the following diagram.

Apart from this focus group discussions were also held with a large

number of students, women and consumers from the villages to assess the

level of awareness about consumer protection issues achieved as a result of

the consumer awareness programme and also to gather information about

the programmes organized in their area. Discussions were also held with

various officials at the block level and district level to assertion their views

about the programmes in particular and the project in general.

Sample Plan: Unit & Size

2 Districts

Katihar

Five Blocks from each District (5x2 = 10)

Four Villages from each Block {(4 x 10 = 40)

Total Sample Size 800+200= 1000

Kishanganj

Barari

Kadwa

Pranpur

Katihar

Sameli

Kishanganj

Bahadurgarhanj

Kochadaman

Dighalbanknk

Pothiya

Twenty Persons from each Village 20 x 40 = 800

Five Eminent Persons from each Village 5 x 40 = 200

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2

Analysis of Cross Section of Village Respondents

Rural India constitutes a huge consumer base. Due to ignorance, low

literacy level as well as lack of consumer education and awareness the

consumers are exploited by the marketers. The exploitation is in various

forms. With the rise in rural prosperity and the changing consumption

pattern in the rural areas there is a need to enhance the awareness of the

rural consumers on various issues. The main objective of the Project was to

take the consumer movement to the grassroots level and impart consumer

education to the village residents so as to enhance awareness about their

consumer rights. As SAVERA had organised consumer awareness

programmes at the Village level, it was necessary to have the opinion of a

cross section of the residents of the village about the usefulness of the

programmes. Accordingly the chapter has been divided into three sections.

Section I deals with the socio- economic background of the respondents. In

Section II, has attempted to evaluate the perceptions of the cross section of

the villagers about the usefulness and effectiveness of the Consumer

Awareness Programmes and Section III evaluates the extent of knowledge

gained by them as a result of the programmes.

SECTION I

2.1 Distribution of Respondents according to Sex

Majority of the respondents (77.3 percent) were males and 22.7

percent of them were females. District wise the percentage of female

respondents was 24.2 for Katihar and 21.3 for Kishanganj. (Table 2.1)

During the survey it was observed that the school going girls were very

eager to answer and express their views while the older women were shy

about expressing their views. This is mainly because of the backwardness of

these two districts and also due to low level of literacy.

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Table 2.1 Sex Wise Distribution of Respondents

Districts Blocks Female Male

Barari 16.7 83.3 Kadwa 22.9 77.1 Katihar 33.3 66.7 Kordha 16.7 83.3 Pranpur 31.3 68.8

Katihar Total 24.2 75.8

Bahadurgarh 12.5 87.5 Dighalbank 29.2 70.8 Kishanganj 14.6 85.4 Pothiya 27.1 72.9 Thakurga 22.9 77.1

Kishanganj Total 21.3 78.8

G. Total 22.7 77.3 Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.2 Distribution of Respondents according to Age

The respondents have been categorized in eight different age groups.

It is important to mention here that SAVERA had organised most of the

programmes in the schools of the respective villages in which school

children participated in large number. Accordingly the respondents in the

age group of below 15 years constituted a large portion i.e. 27.1 percent of

the total sample.

Table 2.2 Age Group of Respondents

Districts DIST <15 Year

16-25

26-35

36-45

46-55

56-65

66-75 >75

Barari 31.3 16.7 6.3 12.5 29.2 2.1 2.1 0Kadwa 37.5 29.2 14.6 14.6 4.2 0 0 0Katihar 50 6.3 20.8 6.3 6.3 8.3 2.1 0Kordha 8.3 20.8 27.1 18.8 20.8 2.1 0 2.1Pranpur 37.5 18.8 8.3 12.5 10.4 6.3 2.1 4.2

Katihar

Total 32.9 18.3 15.4 12.9 14.2 3.8 1.3 1.3Bahadurgarh 12.2 18.8 25.3 29.2 8.3 6.3 0 0Dighalbank 35.4 27.1 18.8 12.5 2.1 4.2 0 0Kishanganj 15.4 12.5 25 26.3 10.4 6.3 4.2 0Pothiya 12.5 22.9 12.5 18.8 20.8 6.3 6.3 0Thakurga 31.3 20.8 12.5 12.5 10.4 12.5 0 0

Kishanganj

Total 21.4 20.4 18.8 19.9 10.4 7.1 2.1 0.0G.Total 27.1 19.4 17.1 16.4 12.3 5.5 1.7 0.7

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA

18

The district wise data indicates that 32.9 percent respondents in

Katihar and 21.4 percent respondents in Kishanganj were students. Middle

age group respondents constituted the bulk of the sample size. The rest of

the respondents were from different age groups as indicated in Table 2.2.

2.3 Distribution of Respondents according to Education The survey data (Table 2.3) revealed that 39.4 percent of the

respondents had studied upto middle school level. 12.3 percent of the

respondents had received education up to intermediate level, 11.7 percent

upto high school level and 9.2 percent of the respondents had received

education only upto primary school. 14.4 percent of the respondents had

never attended school. On the other hand 8.1 percent were graduates and

4.8 percent belonged to post graduate category.

Table 2.3 Educational Status of Respondents

Blocks No

Scho

oli

ng

Prim

ary

Mid

dle

Cla

ss

Hig

h Sc

hool

Inte

rme

diat

e

Gra

dua

te

Post

G

radu

ate

Oth

ers

Barari 12.5 25.0 47.9 6.3 2.1 6.3 0.0 0.0 Kadwa 14.6 6.3 39.6 0.0 20.8 14.6 4.2 0.0 Katihar 6.3 6.3 50.0 8.3 2.1 6.3 18.8 2.1 Kordha 22.9 12.5 6.3 22.9 22.9 2.1 10.4 0.0 Pranpur 8.3 4.2 43.8 8.3 25.0 6.3 4.2 0.0

Katihar Total 12.9 10.8 37.5 9.2 14.6 7.1 7.5 0.4

Bahadurgarh 20.8 10.4 31.3 16.7 18.8 2.1 0.0 0.0 Dighalbank 8.3 6.3 47.9 4.2 10.4 16.7 6.3 0.0 Kishanganj 22.9 6.3 39.6 12.5 8.3 8.3 2.1 0.0 Pothiya 18.8 8.3 35.4 29.2 4.2 4.2 0.0 0.0 Thakurga 8.3 6.3 52.1 8.3 8.3 14.6 2.1 0.0

Kishanganj Total 15.8 7.5 41.3 14.2 10.0 9.2 2.1 0.0 G.Total 14.4 9.2 39.4 11.7 12.3 8.1 4.8 0.2


2.4 Distribution of the Respondents according to Occupation

Most of the respondents were students (31.5 percent) followed by

small & marginal farmers (20.7 percent), agricultural labourers (19 percent),

and government servants (9.6 percent). The district wise data clearly shows

a similar pattern of occupational structure of the respondents in both the

19

districts. Housewives constituted a small percentage as most of them were

not willing to answer the questions.

Table 2.4

Occupation of the Respondents

Occupation Districts Blocks

Sm

all

&M

argi

nal

Farm

ers

Agr

icul

tura

l La

bour

s

Bus

ines

s

Gov

t. S

ervi

ce

Priv

ate

Ser

vice

Stud

ent

Hou

sew

ives

Une

mpl

oyed

Oth

ers

Barari 20.8 25.0 10.4 2.1 2.1 39.6 0.0 0.0 0.0Kadwa 22.8 2.1 4.2 12.5 2.1 43.8 2.1 8.3 2.1Katihar 4.1 14.6 4.2 22.9 0.0 52.1 2.1 0.0 0.0Kordha 22.8 43.8 0 8.3 6.3 16.7 2.1 0.0 0.0Pranpur 16.6 10.4 2.1 18.8 0.0 41.7 2.1 8.3 0.0

Katihar Total 17.4 19.2 4.2 12.9 2.1 38.8 1.7 3.3 0.4

Bahadurgarh 31.1 33.3 6.3 4.2 2.1 2.1 6.3 10.4 4.2Dighalbank 16.6 2.1 6.3 16.7 8.3 45.8 0.0 2.1 2.1Kishanganj 33.2 25.0 6.3 2.1 0.0 14.6 2.1 14.6 2.1Pothiya 29.1 22.9 16.7 0.0 0.0 20.8 4.2 6.3 0.0Thakurga 10.4 10.4 18.8 8.3 4.2 37.5 10.4 0.0 0.0

Kishanganj Total 24.0 18.8 10.8 6.3 2.9 24.2 4.6 6.7 1.7G. Total 20.7 19.0 7.6 9.6 2.5 31.5 3.1 5 1


SECTION II

The success of a project depends on the fact as to what extent it has

been able to achieve its objectives in terms of its effectiveness and

usefulness. An awareness programme should be able to reinforce

knowledge and also help develop skills that would change the buying

behaviour of the consumers, help them seek information and take rational

buying decision. This section deals with the perception of villagers regarding

SAVERA and the effectiveness and usefulness of the programmes

organized by the said agency at village level.

2.5 Knowledge about SAVERA

As far as the respondent’s knowledge about SAVERA as an

organisation is concerned, 71.9 percent of the respondents were aware

about the organisation. However, when enquired in detail and asked about

the nature of the organization, more than half of the respondents replied that

20

it is an NGO. The table 2.5 clearly indicates that 51.9 percent of the

respondents rightly knew about the organizational background of SAVERA.

On the other hand, about 28.1 percent respondents were under the

impression that it was a Government Agency. 20 percent of the respondents

were ignorant about the nature of the organisation. The District wise

responses also indicate the same pattern. 53.2 percent respondents in

Katihar and 50.6 percent in Kishanganj were aware that SAVERA was an

NGO.

Table 2.5 Knowledge about SAVERA

Know SAVERA Type of Organisation Districts Block

Yes No NGO Govt. Org.

Don't Know

Barari 75.8 24.2 59.1 24.5 16.4Kadwa 73.8 26.3 51.2 30.5 18.3Katihar 71.7 28.3 57.5 26.3 16.2Kordha 73.8 26.3 51.3 20.1 28.6Pranpur 67.5 32.5 47.1 30.5 22.4

Katihar

Total 72.5 27.5 53.2 26.4 20.4Bahadurgarh 75.8 24.2 47.1 28.4 24.5Dighalbank 73.8 26.3 53.1 30.6 16.3Kishanganj 77.9 22.1 55.1 26.5 18.4Pothiya 65.4 34.6 51.1 28.3 20.6Thakurga 63.3 36.7 47.1 34.6 18.3

Kishanganj

Total 71.3 28.8 50.6 29.7 19.7G.Total 71.9 28.1 51.9 28.1 20.0

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.6 Contact with SAVERA

The next question of enquiry was as to how the villagers came in

contact with SAVERA. Table 2.6 depicts as to how the villagers came in

contact with SAVERA. According to the responses, almost all the

respondents (97.1 percent) confirmed that they came to know about

SAVERA only when they organised consumer awareness programme in

their village.

21

Table 2.6 Contact with SAVERA

Districts Block During awareness

Programme Due to Others reason

Barari 97.8 2.2 Kadwa 95.8 4.2 Katihar 97.9 2.1 Kordha 95.8 4.2 Pranpur 97.9 2.1


Bahadurgarh 95.8 4.2 Dighalbank 97.9 2.1 Kishanganj 97.9 2.1 Pothiya 95.8 4.2 Thakurga 97.9 2.1

Kishanganj Total 97.1 2.9 G.Total 97.1 2.9

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.7 Techniques adopted by SAVERA in disseminating Consumer

Awareness

According to the proposal and the agreement between Department of

Consumer Affairs and SAVERA, SAVERA was supposed to conduct

different types of activities and programmes to educate the rural consumers

about their rights and to make them aware about various dimensions of

consumer protection. These included public talks, speech, rally, street play,

screening of documentary and other cultural programmes like singing, etc.

Out of the above mentioned activities, consumer awareness documentary

“Jagruk Upbhokta Surakshit Upbhokta” was screened in most of the villages

as 92.6 percent of the respondents confirmed that. (Table 2.7) The

documentary “Jagruk Upbhokta Surakshit Upbhokta” by SAVERA highlights

some of the common problems faced by consumers in their daily life and

provides solution for the same. The documentary is a good medium to

generate awareness as the audio-visual medium leaves a lot of impact on

the mind of the people particularly those with low levels of literacy. The

documentary was found to be informative and effective as it was in Hindi

language with title in local dialect, which could be easily understood by the

local community and was filmed in local backdrop with which the people

could easily correlate. Common problems like defective goods, medical

22

negligence, etc have been depicted and beautifully dealt in the

documentary. The documentary has left an impact on the consumers.

Table 2.7

Programmes Conducted by SAVERA

Programme conducted by SAVERA Rally Cultural

Programme Street Play Screening of

Documentary Speech/ Debate

Districts Blocks

Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes NoBarari 45.8 54.2 43.8 56.3 65.4 34.6 93.8 6.3 70.4 29.6Kadwa 43.8 56.3 64.6 35.4 55 45 79.2 20.8 51.7 48.3Katihar 45.8 54.2 55.1 44.9 65.4 34.6 93.8 6.3 76.7 23.3Kordha 64.6 35.4 47.9 52.1 67.5 32.5 93.8 6.3 70.4 29.6Pranpur 62.5 37.5 37.5 62.5 63.3 36.7 98.3 1.7 74.6 25.4

Katihar

Total 52.5 47.5 49.8 50.2 63.3 36.7 91.8 8.3 68.8 31.2Bahadurgarh 54.2 45.8 56.3 43.8 65.4 34.6 91.7 8.3 70.4 29.6Dighalbank 54.2 45.8 52.1 47.9 48.8 51.3 97.9 2.1 53.8 46.3Kishanganj 70.8 29.2 37.5 62.5 65.4 34.6 85.4 14.6 49.6 50.4Pothiya 70.8 29.2 58.3 41.7 71.7 28.3 97.9 2.1 68.3 31.7Thakurga 58.3 41.7 43.8 56.3 63.3 36.7 93.8 6.3 74.6 25.4

Kishanganj

Total 61.7 38.3 49.6 50.4 62.9 37.1 93.3 6.7 63.3 36.7G. Total 57.1 42.9 49.7 50.3 63.1 36.9 92.6 7.5 66.1 34

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA The next main programme to be organised was Speech/Debate as

66.1 percent of the respondents confirmed that street plays were organized

in their village. At number of places SAVERA organized nukkad nataks

enacting consumer problems and how CPA provides redressal for the same.

About 63.1 percent of the respondents confirmed the organization of Public

Street Play, followed by Rally (57.1 percent) and cultural programmes (49.7)

highlighting consumer issues through songs in local dialect were organized.

As far as Rally is concerned SAVERA organised it only in the morning when

school children were available. Therefore, rallies could not be organized in

those villages where programmes were conducted in the afternoon. This

finding was also confirmed by SAVERA representatives.

23

2.8 Number of Villagers participating in SAVERA Programmes

The survey indicates that the programmes were largely well attended.

Majority of the respondents said that these programmes were attended by

about 100 - 300 villagers on an average. 26.3 percent said it was attended

by 100-200 people. 34.8 percent of the respondents opined that about 200-

300 villagers had attended the programmes, and 14.2 percent said 300-400

villagers attended the programme. The lowest response (4 percent) was

found in the category of below 100. It indicates that proper publicity was

provided to the programme by SAVERA. Villagers were informed in advance

and the topic generated lot of enthusiasm among them to participate in the

awareness programmes. In such programmes the audience is not constant.

Inflow and outflow is a constant phenomena therefore the number varies

during the programmes. Focus Group interviews also revealed that the

participation was quite high in these programmes.

Table 2.8 Number of Villagers attended the Programme

Number of People

Districts Blocks 50-100 100-200 200-300 300-400 400-500 Above 500 Barari 8.3 18.8 29.2 18.8 6.3 18.8Kadwa 4.2 33.3 27.1 10.4 14.6 10.4Katihar 0.0 29.2 39.6 10.4 20.8 0.0Kordha 0.0 14.6 27.1 22.9 20.8 14.6Pranpur 0.0 29.2 41.7 6.3 12.5 10.4

Katihar

Total 2.5 25.0 32.9 13.8 15.0 10.8Bahadurgarh 12.5 43.8 27.1 10.4 2.1 4.2Dighalbank 6.3 20.8 33.3 10.4 18.8 10.4Kishanganj 8.3 20.8 35.4 12.5 14.6 8.3Pothiya 0.0 35.4 37.5 14.6 6.3 6.3Thakurga 0.0 16.7 50.0 25.0 6.3 2.1Total 5.4 27.5 36.7 14.6 9.6 6.3

Kishanganj

G.Total 4.0 26.3 34.8 14.2 12.3 8.5Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA

24

2.9 Level of Participation in SAVERA Activities

The objective of the campaign at village level was to make the

villagers aware about their consumer rights and to educate them about

consumer issues such as quality, quantity and utility of contemporary

products or services. The same would not have been achieved if the

villagers had not attended the programmes. Therefore, it was imperative to

know the level of participation of the villagers in the programmes organized

by SAVERA.

In response to the question on participation in the programmes (Table

2.9), 81.9 percent of the respondents said that they had seen the

documentary film screened by SAVERA. The advantage with the

documentary films was that it was screened mainly in the afternoon when all

the villagers are relatively free and relaxed. Therefore the participation was

high when compared with other forms of programmes.

Table 2.9 Level of Participation in SAVERA Programmes

Programme attended by Villagers

Rally

Cultural Programme

Street Play

Screening of Documentary

Speech/ Debate

Districts Block

Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Barari 33.3 66.7 48.8 51.3 63.3 36.7 79.2 20.8 75.4 24.6Kadwa 31.3 68.8 34.2 65.8 36.3 63.8 64.6 35.4 42.1 57.9Katihar 29.2 70.8 57.1 42.9 48.8 51.3 77.1 22.9 77.5 22.5Kordha 68.8 31.3 59.2 40.8 71.7 28.3 85.4 14.6 52.5 47.5Pranpur 56.3 43.8 61.3 38.8 63.3 36.7 87.5 12.5 75.4 24.6

Katihar Total 43.8 56.3 52.1 47.9 56.7 43.4 78.8 21.2 64.6 35.4

Bahadurgarh 39.6 60.4 50.8 49.2 65.4 34.6 91.7 8.3 79.6 20.4Dighalbank 43.8 56.3 38.3 61.7 57.1 42.9 83.3 16.7 48.3 51.7Kishanganj 50 50 40.4 59.6 61.3 38.8 70.8 29.2 54.6 45.4Pothiya 54.2 45.8 32.1 67.9 65.4 34.6 91.7 8.3 75.4 24.6Thakurga 47.9 52.1 65.4 34.6 69.6 30.4 87.5 12.5 79.6 20.4

Kishanganj Total 47.1 52.9 45.4 54.6 63.8 36.3 85 15 67.5 32.5G. Total 45.4 54.6 48.8 51.3 60.2 39.8 81.9 18.1 66.0 34.0


It is also apparent that programmes held in the late evening had a

higher participation. 60.2 percent of the respondent had seen the Street

Play, 66 percent in Public Talk/Speech and 48.8 percent saw Cultural

25

Programmes. The lowest participation of villagers was found in the rally as

only 45.4 percent of respondents confirmed their participation in the same. It

is notable that most of the participants in the rallies were school children as

SAVERA organized the rallies only in the morning when the school children

were available. 2.10 Items Distributed to Villagers during the Programme According to the project proposal and MoU, SAVERA was to

distribute notepad, pen, book, pamphlets and refreshments to the

participants of the programmes. As per the survey, 58.3 percent received

notepad, 60.8 percent got only pen and 41 percent got refreshments. As per

the data received, SAVERA did not distribute any book/ Training Manual on

consumer protection. However, they had printed one page pamphlet which

was received by majority of the respondents (61 percent). (Annexure II)

Table 2.10 Items Distributed to Villagers during the Programme

Type of Items

Note Pad Pen Books Pamphlets Refreshment

or Snacks Districts Blocks Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

Barari 43.8 56.3 47.9 52.1 0.0 100.0 62.5 37.5 75.0 25.0Kadwa 45.8 54.2 52.1 47.9 0.0 100.0 62.5 37.5 33.3 66.7Katihar 81.3 18.8 87.5 12.5 0.0 100.0 64.6 35.4 31.3 68.8Kordha 41.7 58.3 50.0 50.0 0.0 100.0 66.7 33.3 41.7 58.3Pranpur 50.0 50.0 56.3 43.8 0.0 100.0 66.7 33.3 50.0 50.0

Katihar Total 52.5 47.5 58.8 41.3 0.0 100.0 64.6 35.4 46.3 53.8

Bahadurgarh 54.2 45.8 45.8 54.2 0.0 100.0 39.6 60.4 25.0 75.0Dighalbank 81.3 18.8 87.5 12.5 0.0 100.0 72.9 27.1 39.6 60.4Kishanganj 64.6 35.4 56.3 43.8 0.0 100.0 25.0 75.0 35.4 64.6Pothiya 58.3 41.7 60.4 39.6 0.0 100.0 81.3 18.8 37.5 62.5Thakurga 62.5 37.5 64.6 35.4 0.0 100.0 68.8 31.3 41.7 58.3

Kishanganj Total 64.2 35.8 62.9 37.1 0.0 100.0 57.5 42.5 35.8 64.2G.Total 58.3 41.7 60.8 39.2 0.0 100.0 61.0 39.0 41.0 59.0

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.11 Perception about the Quality of the Programmes

Organising programmes in villages is an important step to

disseminate information and generate awareness among masses at grass

root level. In this endeavour, the consumer organizations can play a crucial

26

and important role by educating and informing the villagers on crucial

consumer issues. Therefore, opinion of villagers was sought on the quality

and effectiveness of the awareness programme conducted by SAVERA.

Accordingly 55.4 percent of the respondents agreed that the quality of the

awareness programmes was very good. 35.6 percent found the

programmes to be good and only 9 percent opined that the programmes

were of average standard. During the discussions it was revealed that the

issues highlighted were of common interest to all the villagers and it touched

their problems. They could also understand the medium used and the

documentary and the cultural programmes made it very interesting and the

message was conveyed.

Table 2.11

Perception about Quality of the Programmes

Perception of Villagers Districts Block Very Good Good Average

Barari 62.4 27.5 10.1 Kadwa 54.1 33.7 12.2 Katihar 64.5 27.5 8.0 Kordha 33.3 56.6 10.1 Pranpur 60.3 31.7 8.0

Katihar Total 54.9 35.4 9.7

Bahadurgarh 45.0 43.0 12.0 Dighalbank 62.7 27.2 10.1 Kishanganj 52.5 37.4 10.1 Pothiya 54.1 37.9 8.0 Thakurga 55.4 30.7 13.9

Kishanganj Total 55.8 35.7 8.5 G. Total 55.4 35.6 9.0

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.12 Usefulness of SAVERA’s Programme

The objective of the programmes organized by SAVERA was to

enhance the villagers’ knowledge about consumer related problems, create

awareness about consumer welfare and educate them about consumer

rights and redressal mechanism available to them. Therefore, it was

imperative to find out the effectiveness and usefulness of the programmes

for the villagers. When the respondents were asked about the usefulness of

the programmes, they were of the opinion that overall the programmes were

27

useful in enhancing consumer awareness and the message was effective.

30.4 percent of the respondents found it to be useful to a large extent. 48.5

percent of them said that these programmes were helpful only to some

extent. About 21 percent of respondents did not find the programmes useful

at all as per the Table 2.12. They said that the programmes would have

been more useful if they were organized on a regular basis as common man

has a tendency to forget the information and knowledge imparted after

sometimes. The major problem with the programmes was that they were

organized once in each village and there was no provision for regular follow

ups. They were mostly one time episodes which left some impact on the

people. There is a need to organize such programmes at regular intervals to

keep the villagers updated on the issues.

Table 2.12 Usefulness of the SAVERA’s Programme

Programme Helpful to Village Consumers Districts Blocks

To large extent To some extent Not at all Barari 27.1 54.2 18.8Kadwa 37.5 47.9 14.6Katihar 31.3 45.8 22.9Kordha 33.3 39.6 27.1Pranpur 29.2 54.2 16.7

Katihar

Total 31.7 48.3 20.0Bahadurgarh 25.0 54.2 20.8Dighalbank 27.1 50.0 22.9Kishanganj 33.3 52.1 14.6Pothiya 29.2 45.8 25.0Thakurga 31.3 41.7 27.1

Kishanganj

Total 29.2 48.8 22.1G.Total 30.4 48.5 21.0

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.13 Effectiveness of Documentary Film on Consumer Awareness SAVERA made a documentary “Jagruk Upbhokta Surakshit

Upbhokta” on consumer related issues and had screened the same during

their awareness campaigns. Day to day consumer problems and issues

28

have been dealt very well in the documentary. The film is in local language

with local dialect and in a local setting. An audio-visual presentation through

the documentary has left a lot of impact on the villagers. The survey results

reveal that the documentary was informative and effective in making people

aware about their right as consumers and the redressal mechanisms

available to them in case of grievance. As per the data (Table 2.13), 77.6

percent of the respondents found the film to be very effective and useful and

16.7 percent of the respondents found them to be effective and useful. While

5.7 percent respondents found the film to be effective and useful only to

some extent.

Table 2.13

Effectiveness of Documentary Film on Consumer Awareness

Opinion about Documentary Film

Districts Blocks

Very Effective

and Useful

Effective and

Useful Effective to some extent



Bahadurgarh 68.8 29.2 2.1 Dighalbank 87.5 8.3 4.2 Kishanganj 68.8 18.8 12.5 Pothiya 77.1 20.8 2.1 Thakurga 91.7 6.3 2.1

Kishanganj Total 78.8 16.7 4.6 G.Total 77.6 16.7 5.7


SECTION III

2.14 Assessment of the Extent of knowledge achieved by Villagers

After attending the programme, the respondents had acquired

information and knowledge about issues relating to consumer protection and

it was expected that their buying behaviour will undergo a change. It was

expected that after the exposure the villagers will be more careful while

29

making a purchase and check relevant information. But that was not the

actual situation. There was apathy and indifference in the attitude of the

villagers. However, they rarely checked the information regarding the

quality, quantity, price, content, manufacturing and expiry date, weight of the

product. The knowledge of the villagers on the standardisation marks like

ISI, Agmark, FPO, BEE, Ecomark, which are assurance about the quality of

product purchased was also found to be very limited. The data indicates that

there is a low level of awareness regarding basic issues concerning the

purchase of a product or hiring a service among the villagers. Lack of

available choice, standardised products, poor purchasing power and

dependence on credit can be cited as the major causes of indifference

among the consumers.

2.15 Changes in Buying Behaviour of the Villagers

The study also attempted to find out the change in the buying

behaviour of the villagers after the programme which is indicative of level of

awareness among the villagers after the programme. Table 2.14 and Figure

2.1 gives a clear picture that despite attending consumer awareness

programme the respondents did not bother much to check the quality, price

and other printed information of the products. However they were very

particular about the weight of the products. The main problem relates to

purchase of loose items of daily use. Since packed commodities of daily use

are not purchased, issues like MRP, expiry date, manufacturing dates, etc

are not of much relevance.

Of all the respondents, 61.9 percent said that they always check

weight of the products before purchasing it. As far as MRP is concerned

only 13.1 percent of the respondents read the MRP printed on the product.

40.8 percent of them said that they do so only some times and rest of the

respondents i.e. 46.1 percent said that they never check MRP printed on the

product. In case of the manufacturing date, only 8.5 percent respondents

always check it before purchasing products. However, majority of the

respondents (62.3 percent) never check the manufacturing date before

30

purchasing the product. Only 11.3 percent of the respondents always check

the contents, whereas 58.1 percent of them never read the content of the

product printed on the packet. On, discussion with the villagers it was

realized that the reason behind it is most of them were uneducated and did

not understand what it meant. Lack of literacy was a hindrance. Unless a

vigorous campaign is launched these issues do not become a part of

consumer’s daily life.

Moreover the shopkeepers also belong to the same village and

there is a face to face contact with them. Due to limited choice there is a

trust factor that works. If the product is not good the shopkeepers readily

exchange the same as a result no dispute arises. Moreover lack of quality

consciousness is another factor that goes against the villagers.

Figure: 2.1

Buying Behavior

61.9

24.4

13.7 13.1

40.846

8.5

29.2

62.3

8.3

28.5

63.1

11.3

30.6

58.1

Always Sometime

Not atall

Always Sometime

Not atall

Always Sometime

Not atall

Always Sometime

Not atall

Always Sometime

Not atall

Weight MRP Mgf. Date Expiry Date Content Used


31

Table 2.14 Buying Behavior of the Respondents

Katihar Kishanganj

Particulars

Response

Bar

ari

Kadw

a

Kat

ihar

Kor

dha

Pran

pur

Tota

l

Baha

durg

arh

Dig

halb

ank

Kis

hang

a

Pot

hiya

Thak

urga

Tota

l G.T

otal

Always 56.9 67.3 59.0 67.3 59.0 61.9 54.8 61.1 59.0 63.2 71.5 61.9 61.9Some time 34.0 19.4 21.5 23.6 25.7 24.8 29.8 21.5 23.6 25.7 19.4 24.0 24.4

Weight

Not at all 9.1 13.3 19.5 9.1 15.3 13.3 15.3 17.4 17.4 11.2 9.1 14.1 13.7Always 16.7 8.3 12.5 18.8 14.6 14.2 6.3 16.7 14.6 10.4 12.5 12.1 13.1Some time 39.6 43.8 35.4 35.4 37.5 38.3 52.1 43.8 37.5 43.8 39.6 43.3 40.8

MRP

Not at all 43.8 47.9 52.1 45.8 47.9 47.5 41.7 39.6 47.9 45.8 47.9 44.6 46Always 10.4 6.3 2.1 10.4 2.1 6.3 6.3 16.7 25 2.1 4.2 10.8 8.5Some time 52.1 6.3 14.6 33.3 27.1 26.7 52.1 2.1 22.9 50 31.3 31.7 29.2

Mgf. Date

Not at all 37.5 87.5 83.3 56.3 70.8 67.1 41.7 81.3 52.1 47.9 64.6 57.5 62.3Always 22.9 6.3 0 0 2.1 6.3 4.2 27.1 16.7 2.1 2.1 10.4 8.3Some time 33.3 8.3 20.8 43.8 27.1 26.7 52.1 4.2 20.8 47.9 27.1 30.4 28.5

Expiry Date

Not at all 43.8 85.4 79.2 56.3 70.8 67.1 43.8 68.8 62.5 50 70.8 59.2 63.1Always 20.8 25 14.6 0 4.2 12.9 0 27.1 0 8.3 12.5 9.6 11.3Some time 14.6 47.9 50 14.6 39.6 33.3 20.8 41.7 20.8 12.5 43.8 27.9 30.6

Content Used

Not at all 64.6 27.1 35.4 85.4 56.3 53.8 79.2 31.3 79.2 79.2 43.8 62.5 58.1 Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA

32

2.16 Bargaining on MRP

Another interesting point is that even though only 13.1 percent always

check the MRP before purchasing the goods, a large number of respondents

usually as a matter of habit bargain on the price. (Table No 2.15). Nearly

72.5 percent of the respondents said that they always bargained on price

and 16.5 percent bargained sometime. Only 11 percent of the respondents

said that they never bargain on the MRP. In fact many of the respondents

during discussions revealed that the shopkeepers generally charge a higher

amount than what is written on the packet and therefore, the villagers are

used to bargaining with the shopkeepers on the price as a normal market

practice. With the level of poverty in the rural areas it should not be expected

that the consumers will switch over to packed commodities. Consumers

bargain over the MRP not because of their knowledge about it but as a

matter of habit as the shopkeepers generally charge more than the MRP.

Table 2.15

Bargaining on MRP

Districts Blocks Yes Sometime Never Barari 76.7 12.2 11.2 Kadwa 72.5 10.1 17.4 Katihar 74.6 12.2 13.3 Kordha 74.6 12.2 13.3 Pranpur 70.4 12.2 17.4

Katihar Total 73.8 11.7 14.5 Bahadurgarh 74.6 12.2 13.3 Dighalbank 78.8 10.1 11.2 Kishanganj 66.3 14.3 19.5 Pothiya 68.3 10.1 21.6 Thakurga 68.3 14.3 17.4


Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.17 Asking for a Bill / Cash Memo

In the rural areas a large numbers of products are being sold by small

vendors and shopkeepers in local haats and mandis. The shops in the

villages also belong to the persons living in the same village. Besides this

33

the villagers usually purchase goods in small quantities. Therefore, in normal

circumstances consumers do not ask for cash memo and the shopkeepers

never give it to the consumers. Infact during the survey it was found that

most of the shopkeepers do not keep printed Bills/Cash Memo’s. Even if

consumers demand they rarely get it. However it is also a fact that the

consumers don’t demand cash memo. They ask for cash memo when they

purchase goods of higher value from nearby towns. However, it is important

that when a purchase is made the consumer should take the cash memo

from the seller. It is his right to demand one if the seller is not giving it.

Taking a cash memo serves as a proof of his/her purchase and also helps in

revenue collection to the Government. The cash memo is an important

document if one has to file a complaint in near future in case any problem

arises.

Table 2.16 Asking for a Bill/Cash Memo while Purchasing Goods

Districts Blocks Yes Sometime Never


Katihar

Total 4.5 8.7 86.8 Bahadurgarh 9.3 12.3 78.4 Dighalbank 7.9 2.1 90.0 Kishanga 8.7 12.2 79.1 Pothiya 6.8 9.9 83.3 Thakurga 12.3 15.3 72.4

Kishanga

Total 9.0 10.4 80.6 G. Total 6.8 9.5 83.7


From the table 2.16 it can be seen that only 6.8 percent of the total

number of the respondents said that they always insist on taking the cash

memo. 9.5 percent insist for the same only sometimes. However, it has been

observed that majority of the respondents do not bother to take a cash

memo for the purchase of goods. Demanding a Cash Memo is not a part of

the culture and purchasing habit. They by and large do not demand it. This

culture needs to be changed, both the consumers as well as the

shopkeepers need to be sensitized on this issue. This can only be done

34

through awareness programmes and active participation of all stakeholders

in the consumer movement.

2.18 Awareness about the Standard Marks

Standardization of products is one of the best ways of protecting the

consumers. The government has launched a programme to standardise

products to ensure its quality and reliability. In India particularly in rural

areas, a large numbers of fake and adulterated products are being sold to

the consumers. On many occasions, the poor and uneducated consumers

do not even know what they are buying from the market, whether it is a

duplicate or an adulterated product. Therefore, to save the consumers from

substandard goods, a number of standardised marks are being given by

different agencies which ensure the product’s authenticity and quality. Some

of the important marks are ISI, AGMARK, FPO, Veg/ Non-Veg, HALLMARK,

BEE, and Eco Mark.

Table 2.17

Awareness about Standardization among Villagers

Standard Mark

ISI Mark Agmark Hall Mark FPO BEE Veg /Non-veg

Eco Mark

Dis

trict

s

Blocks

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Barari 37.9 62.1 14.1 85.9 7.6 92.4 6.6 93.4 1.9 98.1 18.3 81.7 2.4 97.6

Kadwa 69.2 30.8 28.7 71.3 14.6 85.4 14.9 85.1 5.6 94.4 43.3 56.7 10.8 89.2

Katihar 48.3 51.7 45.3 54.7 10.4 89.6 17.0 83.0 3.5 96.5 43.3 56.7 10.8 89.2

Kordha 56.7 43.3 32.8 67.2 10.4 89.6 12.8 87.2 7.7 92.3 14.2 85.8 6.6 93.4

Pranpur 69.2 30.8 16.2 83.8 12.5 87.5 12.8 87.2 9.8 90.2 35.0 65.0 14.9 85.1

Katih

ar

Total 56.3 43.7 27.4 72.6 11.1 88.9 12.8 87.2 5.7 94.3 30.8 69.2 9.1 90.9

Bahadurgarh 37.9 62.1 22.4 77.6 2.2 97.8 4.5 95.5 2.6 97.4 14.2 85.8 8.7 91.3

Dighalbank 58.8 41.3 32.8 67.2 11.0 89.0 13.5 86.5 1.4 98.6 26.7 73.3 17 83

Kishangaj 54.6 45.4 5.8 94.3 9.2 90.8 4.5 95.5 1.6 98.4 14.2 85.8 2.4 97.6

Pothiya 58.8 41.3 20.3 79.7 4.2 95.8 17.0 83.0 3.5 96.5 22.5 77.5 8.7 91.3

Thakurga 69.2 30.8 22.4 77.6 8.6 91.4 21.2 78.8 5.6 94.4 30.8 69.2 4.5 95.5 Kish

anga

nj

Total 55.9 44.2 20.7 79.3 7.0 93.0 12.1 87.9 2.9 97.1 21.7 78.3 8.3 91.7

G.Total 56.1 44.0 24.1 75.9 9.1 90.9 12.5 87.5 4.3 95.7 26.3 73.8 8.7 91.3 Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA

As per the survey, 56.1 percent of the respondents knew about ISI

mark. The basic reason for the high percent of respondents who are aware

35

about ISI is that villagers purchase agri-products, fertilizers, pump sets and

other equipments for farming purposes which are having ISI marks. That’s

why they are aware about IS marks though they may not actually know what

is the utility of buying ISI mark products. The second highest response was

for Veg/Non Veg mark, about 26.3 percent of the respondents knew about

this mark. 24.1 percent knew about the Agmark and another 9.1 percent

knew about the Hallmark which certifies the purity of the gold ornaments.

(Table 2.17) However, there is a higher level of ignorance among the

villagers about the other standardized marks. In responses to the FPO, 12.5

percent of the respondents knew about it. The level of awareness regarding

BEE was 4.3 percent and for Eco Mark it was 8.7 percent. During the

discussions the respondents said that in rural areas, local brand products

are mostly available and are cheaper and therefore, they do not go for

standardized goods. (Figure 2.2)

When questioned they revealed that they came to know about Hall

Mark, BEE and Eco mark from the programmes organised by SAVERA but

they have not seen a product with an Eco mark.

Figure: 2.2

Awarness about Standardisation

56.144.0

24.1

75.9

9.1

90.9

12.5

87.5

4.3

95.7

26.3

73.8

8.7

91.3

Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

ISI Mark Agmark Hall Mark FPO BEE Veg /Non-veg Eco Mark


2.19 Awareness about the CP Act

The Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986 and a number of

studies have revealed that the level of awareness about CP Act is low

particularly in the rural areas. SAVERA had organized the consumer

36

awareness programmes at the Panchayat /block level to educate the

villagers of Bihar about the CP Act. Therefore, the study tried to find out the

level of awareness on this aspect among the villagers after the programme.

The survey data reveals that of all the respondents, 16.07 percent said that

they knew about the Consumer Protection Act to some extent. As far as the

awareness level in the districts is concerned, 17.34 percent of the

respondents from Katihar and 14.8 percent from Kishanganj were aware

about the CP Act. The level of awareness was found to be higher among the

school students. Teachers constituted another important category who were

aware about the Act. Among the category who did not know about the CP

Act said that they saw the films but do not remember the various features of

the Act (Table 2.18).

Table 2.18 Awareness about the Consumer Protection Act, 1986

Awareness about CPA 1986 Districts Blocks

Large Extent

Some Extent

Not at all


Katihar

Total 4.9 17.34 77.76 Bahadurgarh 2.9 12.3 84.8 Dighalbank 4.2 16.5 79.3 Kishanga 5.2 18.6 76.2 Pothiya 2.8 12.3 84.9 Thakurga 3.6 14.4 82

Kishanganj

Total 3.74 14.8 79.4 G.Total 4.31 16.07 79.62


2.20 Knowledge about Consumer Rights under CPA, 1986 After judging the level of awareness about CP Act, the villagers were

further asked about the consumer rights guaranteed to every consumer

under the CP Act, 1986. As we know CP Act, 1986 guarantees six rights to

the consumers but with the low level of awareness about CP Act among the

37

villagers it was over optimism to expect villagers to know all the six rights. As

anticipated, the responses were very negligible, 92.1 percent respondents

did not know about the total number of consumer rights. Only 6.5 percent of

the respondents were able to tell the correct number of consumer rights

(Table 2.19). The district wise data also indicates the same pattern of

responses. In Kishanganj 93.3 percent and in Katihar 90.8 percent did not

know about the total number of the consumer rights under CPA.

Table 2.19

Knowledge about the Number of Consumer Rights under CPA, 1986

Number of Consumer Right Districts Blocks One Three Four Five Six Don't

Know Barari 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.3 93.8Kadwa 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.3 89.6Katihar 0.0 2.1 0.0 0.0 10.4 87.5Kordha 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1 4.2 93.8Pranpur 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.2 6.3 89.6

Katihar

Total 0.4 0.4 0.0 1.3 7.1 90.8Bahadurgarh 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.2 95.8Dighalbank 0.0 0.0 2.1 0.0 6.3 91.7Kishanga 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.3 91.7Pothiya 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1 4.2 93.8Thakurga 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.3 93.8

Kishanganj

Total 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 5.8 93.3G.Total 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.8 6.5 92.1Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.21 Awareness about the Consumer Redressal Agencies

According to the CP Act every consumer has a right to file a

complaint before the redressal agencies under the Act. The Act

decentralizes the consumer dispute redressal system by setting up a three

tier quasi-judicial mechanism. Aggrieved consumers can file a complaint in

the appropriate Forum to redress their grievances. The main objective of

establishing a District Forum is to provide adequate, cheap and speedy

justice to the consumers at local level.

While interacting with the villagers, it was found that majority of the

respondents did not know about the redressal mechanism under the CP Act.

As per the data (Table 2.20), 80.4 percent respondents did not have any

idea about the forum to file a complaint. Merely 13.3 percent of the

respondents knew that complaint could be filed in the district forum. Another

38

6.3 percent opined that the complaint could be filed with the District

Magistrate or District Supply Officer. This is because most of the villagers of

this region have impression that all their problems could be sorted out by the

District Magistrate or the District Supply Officer. Infact most of the

respondents said that they rarely have a problem and even if they have it is

solved by the village shopkeeper. As regards the service providers they

rarely give information to the consumers.

Table 2.20

Where to File a Consumer Complaint

Forum where to file Complaint Districts Blocks DM/SDM District Forum Don't Know

Barari 0 15.8 84.2 Kadwa 4.2 7.5 88.3 Katihar 0 3.3 96.7 Kordha 0 15.8 84.2 Pranpur 10.4 13.8 75.8

Katihar Total 2.9 11.3 85.8 Bahadurgarh 2.1 20 77.9 Dighalbank 14.6 11.7 73.8 Kishanga 14.6 22.1 63.3 Pothiya 8.3 13.8 77.9 Thakurga 8.3 9.6 82.1

Kishanganj Total 9.6 15.4 75 G.Total 6.3 13.3 80.4

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.22 Knowledge about who is Consumer

The CP Act clearly defines who is a Consumer. After examining the

level of awareness regarding the CP Act the villagers were also asked who

is a consumer. 79.6 percent of the respondents did not know who is a

consumer as per the Act while 20.4 percent had some idea about it. These

responses are quite high as compared with the awareness regarding the CP

Act. The responses indicates that for the villagers the term ‘consumer’

means general meaning as used in day to day parlance and not as defined

in the section 2(1) (d) of the Act. Their knowledge about the definition of

consumer as defined under the CP Act is very limited. But they are aware

that if you purchase something you are a consumer. This definition extends

to government services as well. (Table 2.21)

39

Table 2.21 Knowledge about who is Consumer

Villager Response Districts Blocks

Yes No Barari 70.8 29.2 Kadwa 89.6 10.4 Katihar 89.6 10.4 Kordha 81.3 18.8 Pranpur 77.1 22.9

Katihar

Total 81.7 18.3 Bahadurgarh 75.0 25.0 Dighalbank 85.4 14.6 Kishanga 64.6 35.4 Pothiya 77.1 22.9 Thakurga 85.4 14.6

Kishanganj

Total 77.5 22.5 G.Total 79.6 20.4

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.23 Awareness about JAGO GRAHAK JAGO

Jago Grahak Jago is one of the most popular media campaigns

launched by the Department of Consumer Affairs, which intents to inform,

educate and protect the consumers. To spread the message to the people

and to reach every corner of the country, the government is advertising this

campaign through print media, electronic media, hoardings and posters.

76.5 percent of the total respondents knew about this slogan (Table 2.22) and could actually explain what it meant. On the other hand 23.5 percent did

not know anything about this campaign. As far as the difference in

awareness level among male and female respondents is concerned, male

respondents were found to be more aware than female respondents about

this slogan.

Table 2.22 Level of Awareness about ‘’Jago Grahk Jago” Advertisement

Villager Response Districts Sex

No Yes Female 13.8 86.2Male 29.1 70.9


Female 11.8 88.2Male 24.3 75.7

Kishanganj Total 21.7 78.3

Female 12.8 87.2Male 26.7 73.3

G.Total Total 23.5 76.5


40

2.24 Source of Information of “Jago Grahak Jago” Advertisement

The Department of Consumer Affairs publicize ‘Jago Grahak Jago’

advertisement primarily through Television, Radio, or Newspapers.

Therefore, in the absence of these three prominent mediums people may

perhaps not be aware of this campaign. However, in the case of the (76.5

percent) respondents who knew about ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ advertisements,

59.8 percent got the information from Radio. While 46.7 percent got

information from the newspapers particularly from the local Hindi

newspapers and another 20.6 percent got the information from television

(Table 2.23). All of the respondents who knew about this slogan agreed that

it was a prominent slogan during the SAVERA programmes. It was heard

very often before and during the programmes.

Table 2.23

Source of Information of “Jago Grahak Jago” Advertisement

Districts Sex News Papers (out of 100%)

Radio (out of 100%)

TV (out of 100%)

Female 41.4 72.4 10.3 Male 52.7 63.7 22.0


Female 33.3 47.1 17.6 Male 46.0 55.6 23.3

Kishanganj Total 43.3 53.8 22.1

Female 37.6 60.6 13.8 Male 49.3 59.6 22.6

Total Total 46.7 59.8 20.6

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA (Responses of respondents those who know about ‘Jago Grahk Jago’ Advertisement)

2.25 Contacting Consumer Counselling Committee (CCC) for

Advice/Help It is assumed that a well informed consumer if confronted with some

problem associated with purchased product or hired service, would definitely

contact and consult some authority/agency for help and advice to solve their

problems. Since SAVERA is a consumer organization working at the

grassroot level and has organized awareness programmes in the villages,

therefore, it was expected that villagers would approach SAVERA or any

committee set up by it for help, advice and assistance. As per the objective

of the project, SAVERA was to set up Consumer Counselling Committees at

village and block levels which can serve as the resource centres for

41

consumers seeking information and guidance. Thus one of the functions of

SAVERA was to advice and help the villages on specific consumer issues

through these committees. To judge the functionality of these committees

and the initiatives taken by SAVERA to resolve the problems of the

consumers, the study tried to find out how many villagers actually tried to

contact consumer committees and SAVERA for advice and help.

Unfortunately, according to the data (Table 2.24) only 7.1 percent of the

respondents had consulted SAVERA for help after the programme. Rest

92.9 percent of the respondents had never consulted SAVERA, though

many of them had problems relating to purchased commodity or hired

services.

Table 2.24 Contacting CCC for Advice/Help

Help from SAVERA Block Districts Yes No

Barari 4.2 95.8Kadwa 6.3 93.8Katihar 16.7 83.3Kordha 8.3 91.7Pranpur 4.2 95.8

Katihar Total 7.9 92.1Bahadurgarh 2.1 97.9Dighalbank 10.4 89.6Kishanganj 4.2 95.8Pothiya 6.3 93.8Thakurga 8.3 91.7

Kishanganj Total 6.3 93.8G.Total 7.1 92.9

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.26 Village Consumer Counselling Committee

As informed by SAVERA, a committees has been set up in a Group

10 villagers. At many places it involved Panchayat officials and other

representatives of the village. When the villagers were asked about the

existence of the village consumer counselling committees, 58.8 percent of

the respondents confirmed that they know about these committees in the

villages. However, only few villagers have contacted these committees with

problems relating to adulteration, black-marketing of kerosene, poor quality

of fertilizers, substandard products being sold by the local shopkeepers. Few

issues have been resolved by the committee through mediation where local

42

shopkeeper was involved. However, the committee lacked expertise on

technical issues like adulteration, black-marketing etc. and had very limited

knowledge about the CPA, therefore, could not advice properly regarding

appropriate redressal mechanism available to the consumers. There is need

for capacity building of the members of the committee to enable them to help

and advice villagers in a more effective, efficient and appropriate manner.

However as said earlier these committees are formed but do not play an

effective role. Moreover during the survey it was also found that most of the

Committee are disfunctional and do not play any role. Due to lack of regular

flow of funds the Committees have remained disfunctional. No systematic

structural apparatus was seen.

Table 2.25

Village Consumer Counselling Committee

Districts Block Yes No Barari 64.2 46.4Kadwa 61.7 41.2Katihar 58.8 38.3Kordha 60.5 39.5Pranpur 53.6 35.8

Katihar

Total 59.7 40.3Bahadurgarh 61.8 45.6Dighalbank 58.9 41.1Kishanganj 62.4 47.7Pothiya 54.4 38.2Thakurga 52.3 37.6

Kishanganj

Total 57.9 42.1G. Total 58.8 41.2

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 2.27 Reaction of Business Community

Educating common man about their rights and to make them aware

about various dimensions of consumer protection is only one of the aspects

for the success of the consumer movement in this country. There is a need

for action on the part of all the major stakeholders of the movement viz. the

government consumer and the business. This makes it imperative to

motivate the manufactures, traders and retailers to adopt ethical market

practices, particularly in rural areas where people are very poor,

43

uneducated, and underprivileged. There is a need for the business to

understand their social and moral responsibility towards consumers and

implement it in letter and spirit. It is a general perception that the business

community does not appreciate the efforts of the VCOs in educating the

consumers. The same is true in this case as well. They were also found to

be hostile to such initiatives.

Table 2.26

Reaction of Business Community

Behavioral Change of Shopkeepers Districts Block To large Extent To some extent Not at all

Barari 31.3 6.3 62.5Kadwa 8.3 14.6 77.1Katihar 4.2 20.8 75.0Kordha 22.9 14.6 62.5Pranpur 16.7 20.8 62.5

Katihar

Total 16.7 15.4 67.9Bahadurgarh 14.6 12.5 72.9Dighalbank 4.2 25.0 70.8Kishanga 10.4 20.8 68.8Pothiya 6.3 14.6 79.2Thakurga 4.2 22.9 72.9

Kishanganj

Total 7.9 19.2 72.9G. Total 12.3 17.3 70.4


Table 2.26 indicates the opinion of the respondents about the impact

of SAVERA programmes on local shopkeepers. It can be seen that the

responses were not encouraging. Only 12.3 percent of the respondents said

that these programmes were able to make an impact and curb the unethical

marketing practices of local shopkeepers for sometime. Majority of the

respondents (70.4 percent) have confirmed that no changes were found in

the behaviour of local shopkeepers despite having consumer awareness

programmes in their villages.

The present study was carried out on a cross section of the villagers

and representatives of the villages who had attended the awareness

programme organised by SAVERA in the selected two districts. The survey

shows that the programmes organised by SAVERA highlighted important

issues relating to consumers. They attempted to involve school children and

44

launch a vigorous campaign to educate the rural consumers. Various

mediums were used to catch the attention of the consumers. Due to various

reasons the campaign could not be vigorous and reinforcement of the

message could not take place. The rural consumers have altogether a

different set of needs and aspirations. Lack of financial capacity also has a

limit on their purchasing power and their purchase behaviour is different and

constrained by a number of other factors.

45

3

Analysis of Responses of Officials and Panchayati Raj

Functionaries

3.1 Introduction

As a measure to strengthen the grass root level democracy,

government endeavours to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions in terms of

functions, powers and finance. Grama Sabha, NGOs, Self-Help Groups and

PRIs have been accorded adequate role to make participatory democracy

meaningful and effective. Similarly for the success of any programme at the

grass root level Panchayati Raj Institution forms the base from where the

programme should actually start and then pick up momentum in the long

run. The grass root level functionaries –pradhans, sarpanch, patwaris,

school teachers, local officials etc. can play a key role in disseminating

consumer education to the masses. The SAVERA had organised Consumer

Awareness Programmes in two districts i.e Katihar and Kishanganj at village

level with the coordination of village officials which included panchayat

representatives and other officials like the Mukhia, Sarpanch, Panchayat

Member, School Headmaster, Teacher and Gram Sachiv. Therefore, it was

necessary to have their opinion to evaluate the effectiveness of Consumer

Awareness Programmes organized by SAVERA.

The evaluation study was conducted in 40 villages of ten blocks of the

two districts. From each village five representatives were interviewed with

the help of a structured questionnaire. The analysis of responses of 200

representatives has been presented in this chapter. The chapter is divided

into two sections. Section I describes the socio-economic profile of the

representatives, while in Section II, an analysis of the respondents

perception about the awareness programme and its effectiveness has been

presented. Apart from the questionnaire, discussions were held with a large

number of people in the village like school teacher, anganwadi workers,

46

junior engineer, government functionaries etc. The views of other

representatives were also elicited.

Section I

Socio-Economic Profile of Respondents 3.2 Gender of the Respondents

In this section the socio-economic profile of the respondents has been

analysed. This will help us to understand their behaviour pattern as a

consumer. Out of the respondents, 89.6 percent were males and 10.4

percent were females (Figure 3.1). District wise analysis reveals that the

male and female ratio was approximately same. The males constituted 97.3

in Kathiar and 82.5 in Kishanganj. This was because the target group

consisted of mainly males. The female elected representatives did not come

forward to answer the questions because of traditional stereotyping.

Figure: 3.1

Source: Field Survey, CCS,IIPA

3.3 Age group of the Respondents

38 percent of the respondents were in the age group of 41-50 years,

while 28.3 percent of the respondents were in the age group of 51-60 years,

12.9 percent were between 31-40 years, 11.5 percent were above 60 years

and 9.4 percent were below 30 years age group.

47

Figure: 3.2

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 3.4 Education Level of the Respondents

As far as the education level of the respondents is concerned 6.5

percent were post-graduate, 36.4 percent were graduates, 32.5 percent had

studied upto intermediate level and 14.3 percent upto middle level. A district

wise distribution of the respondents on the basis of their education level

reveals that, in Katihar district the percent of the respondents educated upto

graduate level was higher (40.5 percent) while respondents educated upto

intermediate level was 37.5 percent. In Kishanganj it was 32.5 percent and

37.5 percent respectively. The respondents who had never attended school

was very less, 1.3 percent of total respondents. The high percentage of

graduate is mainly because the target group consisted of teachers and other

local officials.

Figure 3.3


48

3.5 Designation of the Respondents

The Figure 3.4 gives the designation wise distribution of respondents.

43.1 percent of the respondents were School teachers, 17.9 percent were

Headmasters while 20.7 percent were Gram Pradhans and 17 percent were

designated as Sarpanch. For the success of any programme at the grass

root level the involvement of PRI officials is necessary as their leadership

can help promote consumer movement at the village level. The teachers are

important links in the society and can play an important role in imparting

knowledge not only among students but also among the rural masses.

Teachers are knowledgeable and have access to information. They are also

respected in the society therefore they can play an important role in

consumer education and awareness.

Figure: 3.4


49

Section II

Responses of the Officials (Panchayat Representatives and others) about SAVERA and the Effectiveness of the Consumer Awareness

Programmes

3.6 Awareness about SAVERA

To assess the effectiveness of the awareness programmes the

respondents were first asked whether they were aware about SAVERA. 90.3

percent of the respondents were aware and knew about SAVERA while only

9.7 percent said that they had no idea about SAVERA. District wise also the

results were almost same. Most of them agreed that they came to know

about SAVERA through the programmes that they organised.

Table 3.1 Awareness about SAVERA

Aware about SAVERA Blocks Designation Yes No

Gram Pradhan 96.2 3.8 Sarpanch 91.6 8.4 Headmaster 89.7 10.3 Teacher 85.3 14.7



Kishanganj Total 89.9 10.2 G. Total 90.3 9.7

Source: Field Survey, CCS,IIPA 3.7 Status of SAVERA

Even though a high percentage of the respondents were aware about

SAVERA as an organisation but only half of them knew that it was an NGO.

Table 3.2 describes the knowledge of the respondents regarding the status

of SAVERA. When the respondents were asked whether SAVERA is an

NGO or a government organisation, 55.6 percent of the respondents said

that it is an NGO, 29.1 percent said that it is a government organisation

while 15.3 percent of them did not have any idea about it. District wise

analysis reveals that 45 percent of the respondents in Kathiar and 53.3

percent in Kishanganj said that SAVERA is a NGO. While 33.2 percent of

50

the respondents in Kathiar District and 29.1 percent in Kishanganj were

under the impression that SAVERA is a government organisation.

Table 3.2

Awareness about status of SAVERA

Type of Organisation Districts Designation

NGO Government Organisation Don't Know

Gram Pradhan 69.6 19.4 11.0 Sarpanch 66.3 15.2 18.5 Headmaster 71.0 18.0 11.0 Teacher 9.0 80.0 11.0

Katihar

Total 54.0 33.2 12.9 Gram Pradhan 70.2 17.3 12.5 Sarpanch 63.0 21.0 16.0 Headmaster 72.0 17.0 11.0 Teacher 24.0 45.0 31.0

Kishanganj

Total 57.3 25.1 17.6 G.Total 55.6 29.1 15.3


3.8 Consumer Awareness Programme

To check the authenticity of the claim made by SAVERA about the

programmes, the respondents were asked whether consumer awareness

programmes were organized at village/ block level or not. In response to this

question majority of the respondents, (97.4 percent) confirmed that the

awareness programmes were organized in their village, while only 2.6

percent said that the awareness programmes were not organized in their

villages (Table 3.3).District wise also majority of the respondents (100

percent in Kathiar and 95.0 percent Kishanganj) agreed that the awareness

programmes were organized in the villages. Those who disagreed mainly

were the headmasters. On enquiry it was revealed during discussions that

the programme was not organised in their school and therefore they did not

participate.

51

Table 3.3 Awareness Programme at Village/ Block Level

Response Districts Designation

Yes No Gram Pradhan 100.0 0.0 Sarpanch 100.0 0.0 Headmaster 100.0 0.0 Teacher 100.0 0.0

Katihar

Total 100.0 0.0 Gram Pradhan 100.0 0.0 Sarpanch 100.0 0.0 Headmaster 87.5 12.5 Teacher 100.0 0.0

Kishanganj

Total 95.0 5.0 G. Total 97.4 2.6

Source: Field Survey, CCS,IIPA 3.9 Programmes /Activities Organized by SAVERA

According to the MoU, SAVERA had to organise a variety of activities

and programmes at village, block and district level to educate the rural

consumers about their rights and to make them aware about various

dimensions of consumer protection. These could be public talks, speech,

rally, street play (nukkad nataks), consumer related documentary film and

other cultural programmes like singing, etc. The views of the respondents

were ascertained on the different activities organized by SAVERA (Table

3.4). It is clear from the data that out of the above mentioned activities,

consumer awareness documentary was screened in most of the villages,

which has been confirmed by 85.2 percent of the respondents while 55.9

percent of the respondents said that street plays were organized in their

village. About 52.3 percent of the respondents confirmed that Public Speech

was delivered, followed by cultural programme (47.3 percent) and Rally

(48.2 percent). During the discussions with SAVERA this point was raised

therefore as far as Rally is concerned SAVERA has informed that they

organised it only in the morning when school children were available.

Therefore, they could not organize rally in those villages where programmes

were conducted in the afternoon.

52

Table 3.4

Programme/Activities Organized by SAVERA

Activities

Ral

ly

Spe

ech

Stre

et P

lay

Doc

umen

tar

y Fi

lm

Cul

tura

l P

rogr

amm

e

Blocks Designation

Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Gram Pradhan 57.1 42.9 29.9 70.1 69.7 30.3 85.7 14.3 48.4 51.6Sarpanch 50.0 50.0 62.0 38.0 84.0 16.0 87.5 12.5 64.5 35.5Headmaster 50.0 50.0 64.8 35.2 61.8 38.2 94.4 5.6 65.9 34.1Teacher 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 9.0 91.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 100.0

Katihar

Total 39.3 60.7 39.2 60.8 56.1 43.9 91.9 8.1 44.7 55.3Gram Pradhan 33.3 66.7 75.9 24.1 50.7 49.3 100.0 0.0 43.7 56.3Sarpanch 80.0 20.0 47.0 53.0 44.0 56.0 60.0 40.0 57.0 43.0Headmaster 75.0 25.0 62.0 38.0 84.0 16.0 93.8 6.3 52.0 48.0Teacher 40.0 60.0 77.0 23.0 44.0 56.0 60.0 40.0 47.0 53.0

Kishanganj

Total 57.1 42.9 65.5 34.5 55.7 44.3 78.5 21.6 49.9 50.1 G.Total 48.2 51.8 52.3 47.7 55.9 44.1 85.2 14.8 47.3 52.7


3.10 Time Period of Organising the Programmes by SAVERA Awareness programmes can only be successful if the campaign is

vigorous and organised at regular intervals thereby keeping the target group

updated with the latest developments. Besides organizing the awareness

programmes regularly there is a need to maintain continuity and to ensure a

follow up at regular intervals. As per the project proposal the awareness

campaign was designed to be vigorous using different kinds of media. Since

the project was confined only to two districts with good budgeting support it

had to be a massive campaign. But it did not happen as was proposed but

spread over a period of three year. It was important to know as to the time

interval of the programme that was organised in various villages. The

respondents were asked when the programme was organized in their village

by the SAVERA. In response to that 51.9 percent of them said that the

programme was organized a year back, 40.3 percent revealed that it was

organized two years back and 7.8 percent of the respondents said that it

was organized three years back. District wise results also reveal the same

pattern as 73.0 percent of the respondents in Kathiar and 32.5 percent in

Kishanganj said it was organized a year back. While 24.3 percent of the

53

respondent in Kathiar and 55 percent in Kishanganj said it was organized

two years back.

Table 3.5

Time Period of Organising the Programmes by SAVERA

Districts Designation Before Six

Month Before One

Year Before Two

Years Before

Three Years Gram Pradhan 0.0 57.1 28.6 14.3Sarpanch 0.0 87.5 12.5 0.0Headmaster 0.0 66.7 33.3 0.0Teacher 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0

Katihar

Total 0.0 73.0 24.3 2.7Gram Pradhan 0.0 44.4 33.3 22.2Sarpanch 0.0 40.0 60.0 0.0Headmaster 0.0 18.8 68.8 12.5Teacher 0.0 40.0 50.0 10.0

Kishanganj

Total 0.0 32.5 55.0 12.5G. Total 0.0 51.9 40.3 7.8

Source: Field Survey, CCS,IIPA 3.11 Attendance during the Programmes

This campaign was organized at village level to make the villagers

aware about their consumer rights and to educate them regarding choice,

quality, quantity and utility of products or services. It also focused on the

Consumer Protection Act and the redressal available to the consumers.

Unless the programmes are all attended its utility will remain limited.

Therefore, it was imperative to know whether the villagers had participated

or not in the programmes organized by SAVERA.

In response to the question regarding participation of the villagers in

the programme, 14.3 percent of the respondents said that around 50-100

villagers attended the programme, 2.6 percent said that it was attended by

100-200 villagers, majority of them (55.8 percent) said that programme was

attended by 200-300 villagers. 14.3 percent said that it was attended by

villagers between 300-400. 9.1 percent were of the view that around 400-

500 villages attended the programmes while 3.9 percent said more than 500

people attended the programmes. District wise data exhibits that 45.9

percent of respondents in Kathiar and 65 percent in Kishanganj were of the

opinion that the programmes were attended by 200-300 people. This clearly

indicates that SAVERA was able to mobilize and gather villagers for the

54

programme. Information regarding the programme and venue was given to

the villagers in advance to enable them to be present and participate in the

programme. However during discussions it was also revealed that since

politicians participated in the programmes large numbers of people were

mobilised.

Table 3.6

Attendance during the Programme

No. of Villagers attended the Programme Districts Designation

50-1

00

100-

200

200-

300

300-

400

400-

500

Mor

e th

an 5

00

Gram Pradhan 28.6 0.0 57.1 14.3 0.0 0.0 Sarpanch 37.5 0.0 12.5 25.0 25.0 0.0 Headmaster 11.1 0.0 50.0 22.2 11.1 5.6 Teacher 0.0 0.0 75.0 0.0 25.0 0.0

Katihar Total 18.9 0.0 45.9 18.9 13.5 2.7 Gram Pradhan 0.0 11.1 77.8 11.1 0.0 0.0 Sarpanch 0.0 0.0 80.0 20.0 0.0 0.0 Headmaster 0.0 0.0 68.8 12.5 12.5 6.3 Teacher 40.0 10.0 40.0 0.0 0.0 10.0

Kishanganj Total 10.0 5.0 65.0 10.0 5.0 5.0 G.Total 14.3 2.6 55.8 14.3 9.1 3.9

Source: Field Survey, CCS,IIPA 3.12 Items Distributed during the Programme According to the project proposal SAVERA was to distribute notepad,

pen, books, pamphlets and refreshment to the participants attending the

programmes. As per the respondents, 72.7 percent of the participants said

that they had received notepad, 61 percent received pen and only 77.9

percent got refreshment. As far as publicity material is concerned, SAVERA

did not distribute any handbook on consumer protection/ training manual as

confirmed by 80 percent of the respondents. However, SAVERA had

distributed a one page pamphlet in Hindi which the local people could easily

understand. The pamphlet contained relevant information regarding rights of

the consumer and the redressal available to the consumers in case of

55

grievance regarding defective goods or deficient services. 74 percent of the

respondents opined that they had received the pamphlet (table 3.7).

Table 3.7 Items Distributed During the Programme

Districts

Items Response Katihar Kishanganj Total Yes 59.5 85.0 72.7 Note pad

No 40.5 15.0 27.3 Yes 40.5 80.0 61.0 Pen

No 59.5 20.0 39.0 Yes 16.2 22.5 19.5 Books

No 83.8 77.5 80.5 Yes 64.9 82.5 74.0 Pamphlet

No 35.1 17.5 26.0 Yes 67.6 87.5 77.9 Refreshment

No 32.4 12.5 22.1 Yes 8.1 2.5 5.2 Nothing

No 91.9 97.5 94.8 Source: Field Survey, CCS,IIPA

3.13 Level of Satisfaction

The feedback of the respondents about the usefulness of the

awareness programme is an important element in evaluating the success of

such programmes. When the respondents were asked about their opinion

regarding the impact of the programme and their level of satisfaction with the

programme, the response was quite encouraging. 60.5 percent of the

respondents were satisfied to a large extent with the programmes, followed

by 28.1 percent who were satisfied to some extent. While the ones who

were not at all satisfied were 11.4 percent. District wise also 68.2 percent of

respondents in Kathiar and 52.9 percent in Kishanganj were satisfied to a

large extent with the programmes conducted by SAVERA. By and large

people were satisfied with the knowledge imparted and message conveyed

during such programmes (Table 3.8).

56

Table 3.8 Satisfaction Level of the Respondents about the Programmes

Level of Satisfaction

Districts Designation To large extent To some extent Not at all Gram Pradhan 71.4 20.6 8.0Sarpanch 62.5 26.5 11.0Headmaster 75.8 18.2 6.0Teacher 63.0 24.0 13.0


Gram Pradhan 34.3 56.7 9.0Sarpanch 67.0 20.0 13.0Headmaster 66.3 18.7 15.0Teacher 44.0 40.0 16.0

Kishanganj Total 52.9 33.9 13.3 G.Total 60.5 28.1 11.4

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 3.14 Perception on the Quality of Programmes Conducting programmes in villages is an important step towards

disseminating the information to the consumers at the grass root level.

Consumer organizations can play a crucial role in providing education and

information to the masses because of their reach to that level. The

respondent’s opinion was sought on the quality of the awareness

programme conducted by SAVERA. The questions related to various

parameters about the programme like the objectives of programme, the

methods of dissemination of education and awareness, quality of resource

persons etc.

In the opinion of the respondents the objectives of the programme

were satisfactory to large extent (17.8 percent) while 51.3 percent said the

objectives were satisfactory to some extent. As regard the methods used to

deliver the programme, 21.5 percent of the respondents said it was

satisfactory to large extent. With regard to the choice of resource persons for

the programme, 22.5 percent of the respondents agreed that the experts

were satisfactory to large extent, while the rest 50.3 percent said they were

satisfactory to some extent. On timings of the programme, 19.6 percent of

the respondents were of the opinion that the timings of the programme

satisfactory to large extent while 52.5 percent said the timings were

satisfactory to some extent.

57

Table 3.9

Perception on the Quality of the Programme

Districts Objectives of the

Programme Method used to

deliver

Resource Persons Timing of

Programme

Sat

isfie

d to

larg

e ex

tent

Sat

isfie

d to

som

e ex

tent

Not

at a

ll

Sat

isfie

d to

larg

e ex

tent

Sat

isfie

d to

som

e ex

tent

Not

at a

ll

Sat

isfie

d to

larg

e ex

tent

Sat

isfie

d to

som

e ex

tent

Not

at a

ll

Sat

isfie

d to

larg

e ex

tent

Sat

isfie

d to

som

e ex

tent

Not

at a

ll

Gram Pradhan 18.6 57.9 23.5 18.6 59.9 21.5 19.5 58.2 22.3 22.9 44.5 32.6 Sarpanch 15 62.7 22.3 27.5 50.4 22.1 28.8 50.2 21 17.5 60.3 22.2 Headmaster 15.6 32.8 21.6 31.1 37.3 31.6 31 47 22 20.6 45.9 33.5 Teacher 15 62.9 22.1 15 42.5 42.5 18.1 50 31.9 15 53.7 31.3

Katihar Total 16.1 54.1 22.4 23.1 47.5 29.4 24.4 51.4 24.3 19.0 51.1 29.9 Gram Pradhan 24.1 52.7 23.2 30.7 46.7 22.6 13.6 53.3 33.1 20.6 55.8 23.6 Sarpanch 20 57.4 22.6 17.8 60 22.2 20 48 32 21.5 57.3 21.2 Headmaster 15.3 47.8 32.2 12.3 56.3 31.4 28.5 47.3 24.2 24.2 48.3 27.5 Teacher 18.5 36.5 43.5 18.7 48 33.3 20.1 48.5 31.4 14.3 54.3 31.4

Kishanganj Total 19.5 48.6 30.4 19.9 52.8 27.4 20.6 49.3 30.2 20.2 53.9 25.9 G.Total 17.8 51.3 26.4 21.5 50.1 28.4 22.5 50.3 27.2 19.6 52.5 27.9

Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 3.15 Need for Awareness Programmes in Future The Right to Consumer Education is one of the basic rights of

consumers as per the CP Act and it is an ongoing process. For achieving

sustained results with this regard continuous effort in this direction are

required to be made. The views of the respondents were also sought

regarding the need of such awareness programmes and to what extent are

they useful for the common man. Majority of the respondents (93.9 percent)

were of the opinion that such programmes serve as an important source of

information and awareness for the people at large. The percentage of

respondents who did not agree with the importance of such programmes

was very less (1.8 percent) while 4.3 percent of the respondents had no idea

about it. Thus the data clearly reveals that such awareness programmes are

important at the gross root level.

58

Table 3.10 Need for Such Programmes

Blocks Designation Yes No Can't say

Gram Pradhan 93.2 2.6 4.2 Sarpanch 92.6 1.3 6.1 Headmaster 96.8 0.2 3.0 Teacher 95.4 1.5 3.1

Katihar Total 94.5 1.4 4.1 Gram Pradhan 94.0 1.6 4.4 Sarpanch 91.3 2.8 5.9 Headmaster 94.6 2.3 3.1 Teacher 93.8 1.9 4.3


Source: Field Survey, CCS, IIPA 3.16 Level of Awareness after the Programme To check the authenticity of the claim made by SAVERA about the

outreach of their programmes, the respondents were asked whether the

level of awareness has increased or decreased after the programmes

conducted by SAVERA. In response to this majority of the respondents

(83.8 percent) confirmed that the level of awareness in the areas where

programmes were conducted has increased while only 16.2 said that it is

same as before. District wise also the results were on the same pattern as

84.4 percent of respondents in Katihar and 83.3 percent in Kishanganj were

of the opinion that the level of awareness has increased a lot. (Table 3.11)

Table 3.11 Level of Awareness after the Programme

Blocks Designation Increased As earlier


Katihar Total 84.4 15.7 Gram Pradhan 83.6 16.4 Sarpanch 81.4 18.6 Headmaster 84.5 15.5 Teacher 83.5 16.5

Kishanganj Total 83.3 16.8 G. Total 83.8 16.2


59

4

Findings and Recommendations 4.1 Findings 4.1.1 Administrative and Financial

1) The project was to be completed within a year i.e. from August 2007-July 2008. However, it was spread over three years from 2007 to 2010 and the delay diluted the impact of the awareness programmes as they could not be launched vigorously, hence the campaign lacked momentum.

2) Examination of documents, orders and records reveals that the project encountered a number of administrative and financial problems. There appears to be a lack of coordination between the three major stakeholders, i.e. SAVERA, the District Magistrate of the concerned districts and DoCA, GoI.

3) The monitoring mechanism put in place was not effective hence delay in the implementation of the project. The reports were not sent in time by the District Magistrate and DCA could not release funds in time hence the pace of the implementation of the project was very slow.

4) The delay in release of grants is one of the major problems associated with the implementation of the project. Grants were released on 21/6/2007, 10/01/2008, 10/10/2008 and 30/11/2009. The period between the third instalment and the fourth one is more than a year. Therefore, it was difficult to sustain the project and hence delay in its implementation and it had only limited multiplier effect.

5) As per records and documents available and examined no major programme was organised to celebrate the National Consumer Day and World Consumer Day in the respective two districts so as to educate the consumers.

6) The project as such is good as there is a need to educate rural consumers and create awareness on various issues relating to consumer welfare. The involvement of school children is essential as they are the best communicators of consumer issue.

60

4.1.2 Response of Villagers

1) Majority of the respondents (71.9 percent) know about SAVERA and 51.9 percent were aware that it is an NGO. 97.1 percent of them came into contact with SAVERA only during the programmes being conducted in their area.

2) The methodology /technique adopted to educate the rural consumers included rallies, public talk, speeches, street plays, screening of documentary films and organising cultural programmes. 92.6 percent of the respondents agreed that the film highlighted day to day consumer problems. 63.1 percent of them confirmed street plays were organised, 57.1 percent and 49.7 percent confirmed that rallies and cultural programmes were organised.

3) 81.9 percent of the respondents had seen the documentary, while 60.2 percent had seen street play and 48.8 percent actually saw the cultural programmes.

4) Even though the programme was to target school children yet the participation of school children in the rallies was low, as only 45.4 percent of the respondents participated in the rallies. School children did not participate in large number in the programmes organised in the afternoons.

5) The programmes were generally well attended. The respondents and the records show that the participation varied from programme to programme and ranged between 100-400 participants. Adequate publicity was given to the programmes.

6) The survey results indicate that only 58.3 percent of the respondents received notepad, 60.8 percent got pens and 41 percent were given refreshments during the programmes. As far as the quality of the programmes is concerned 55.4 percent of the respondents found it to be of very good quality and 35.6 percent were of the view that the programmes were good as they highlighted common day to day problems in the local language.

7) 30.4 percent of the respondents found the programmes to be very useful while 48.5 percent found it to be of some use. 77.6 percent found the documentary film to be very useful and an effective medium of communication.

8) As a result of the programmes, no substantial change in the buying behaviour of the respondents is seen. 61.9 percent of the respondents checked the weight of the product they purchased,

61

13.1 percent read the MRP on the packet, 8.5 percent always checked the manufacturing date and only 11.3 percent checked the manufacturing date sometime. 72.5 percent of the respondents always bargained on the price. Lack of literacy and purchase of loose items on credit was cited as a major reason for not checking the above markings.

9) Only 6.8 percent knew about ISI mark. 26.3 percent had seen veg/ Non-veg marking and 24.1 percent knew about Agmark. Students constituted the bulk of the respondents who knew about these markings.

10) Awareness about CP Act is lacking as only 4.31 percent of the respondents knew about the CP Act. 79.6 percent did not know the definition of consumer as per the Act and only 16.07 percent had some idea. 76.5 percent knew about “Jago Grahak Jago” advertisement and the main source of information was radio (59.8 percent).

11) The survey found that the Consumer Counselling Committees constituted under the project were ineffective and did not play the desired role. In large number of villages they do not exist at all. Wherever it existed the quality of manpower was poor hence only 7.1 percent of the respondents approached the CCS for advice/need. 58.8 percent knew about the existence of such Committees but had not approached them.

12) The business committee did not favour the organisation of such awareness programmes.

4.1.3 Response of Officials/ PRI Functions

1) The survey included 89.6 percent males and 10.4 percent females. Majority of the respondents were in the age group of 41-60 years (50.3 percent). 36.4 percent of the respondents were graduates.

2) 90.7 percent of the respondents knew about SAVERA and 55.6 percent knew that it was an NGO. 97.4 percent of the respondents confirmed that various programmes were organised by SAVERA in the villages and at block level.

3) 85.2 percent of the respondents agreed that consumer awareness documentary film was screened, 55.9 percent said that street plays were organised. 47.3 percent indicated that cultural programmes were organised and 48.2 percent of them confirmed that rallies had been organised.

62

4) As far as the time period is concerned 51.9 percent of the respondents said that the programmes was organised a year back, 40.3 agreed that it was organised two years back and 7.8 percent were of the view that it was organised three years back.

5) Majority of the respondents (55.8 percent) agreed that the programmes were well attended and participants ranged between 200-300. At times it was more than 500.

6) 72.7 percent of the respondents received notepad, 61 percent received pen and 22.1 percent got refreshments.

7) 60.5 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the programmes, 22.5 percent were of the view that the experts were very good. Majority of them agreed with the timing of the programmes was good. No training manual or handbook has been prepared by SAVERA nor has it been distributed. A one page pamphlet was distributed.

8) 93.9 percent of the respondents agreed that there is a need for such programmes as they are an important source of information to the consumers. Majority of them agreed (83.8 percent) that where the programme was organised the level of awareness had increased.

4.2 Recommendations

1) The project is important as the bulk of the consumers live in rural areas and is exploited in various forms. There is a need to educate the rural consumers and also to involve the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the consumer movement. Hence such programmes may be continued with appropriate checks and balances.

2) SAVERA as an organisation has the capacity and reach to undertake such projects of consumer education and awareness. They have been able to mobilise rural consumers to a large extent.

3) The monitoring mechanism provided in the project did not function effectively hence delay in dispatch of the reports which led to delay in the implementation of the project. The involvement of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Government of Bihar will be useful. The Director, Consumer Affairs in the state government can be made the nodal officer instead of the DM to monitor the project, inspect and send reports to DoCA, GoI.

63

4) A project of high value like the present one should have a provision for mid term review based on field data.

5) The number of participants at places increased many fold due to the involvement of local politicians hence the programme lost its educational value. There is a need to fix a range of participants say 100-150 per programme.

6) The quality of resource persons/trainers needs to be improved. A list of resource persons should be prepared and training imparted to them well in advance. A Trainer Manual /Guide Book should be prepared and adequate training imparted to the resource persons.

7) The duration of each programmes should be increased. It could be atleast a half day programme but preferably a full day programme. In the morning rallies should be organised followed by a general awareness programme. In the evening documentary and cultural programmes be organised followed by focus group interaction. Gathering a mass of people and lecturing will have limited effect.

8) School children should be involved in large numbers in the programmes. The schools should become the central point. Activities like debates, poster/painting competition should also be organised for school children.

9) The village Consumer Counselling Committees are more or less disfunctional and have not played an effective role. They need to be revived and strengthened so that the consumers can seek advice and help. A nodal person should be in-charge of each committee with knowledge of consumer issues. He should be trained. The location, time and other details of the committee should be published. These committees could be linked to the state helpline and consumer advice centres being set up in the state.

10) The President and Members of the District Forums should be involved as they can play a role in such awareness programmes.

11) A Booklet on Consumer Protection must be prepared along with pamphlets and these be distributed in large numbers.

12) Panchayati Raj Institutions should be involved to educate the rural masses and generate awareness. Consumer Awareness Programmes can be organised during the Gram Sabha Meetings.

64

Annexure I

SAVERA Programmes Schedule

PANCHAYAT LEVEL PROGRAMME

S.no Programme level

Name of the Block

Panchyat Date Place

1. Panchayat Dighal bank Tulsiya 31.01.08 Middle school, tulsiya

2. Panchayat Bahadurganj Sameswar 31.01.08 Panchayat campus 3. Panchayat Dighal Bank Singhimari 01.02.08 Middle School,

Singhimari 4. Panchayat Dighal Bank Mangoora 01.02.08 Panchayat Parisar,

Mangara 5. Panchayat Dighal Bank Dhantola 02.02.08 Middle School,

Dhantola 6. Panchayat Dighal Bank Karuwamani 02.02.08 Middle School,

Gandarv Danga 7. Panchayat Bahadurganj Natuapara 02.02.08 Health Centre and

Panchayat Bhawan 8. Panchayat Bahadurganj JhilJhili 03.02.08 Prathmic Vidyalaya

Chhoti, JhilJhili 9. Panchayat Bahadurganj Guabari 03.02.08 primary School,

Nayatola, Guabari 10. Panchayat Bahadurganj Palasmani 03.02.08 Middle School,

Palasmani 11. Panchayat Bahadurganj Dohar 04.02.08 Mahadeo Diggi

Chowk / Panchayat Bhawan

12. Panchayat Kochadhaman Kairibirpur 04.02.08 Middle School, Kairibirpur

13. Panchayat Kochadhaman Tegharia 04.02.08 Primary School, Gauramani, Tegharia

14. Panchayat Dighal Bank Satkowa 05.02.08 Middle School, Hadri Bhita

15. Panchayat Dighal Bank Dighal Bank 05.02.08 Middle School, Harua Danga

16. Panchayat Bahadurganj Mahesh Badhna

07.02.08 Samudayik Bhawan, Jhinga Katta

17. Panchayat Bahadurganj Bhatabari 07.02.08 Primary School, Bansbaw, Bhatabari

18. Panchayat Bahadurganj Jhinga Kanta 07.02.08 Primary School, Dahgow, Jhinga

Kanta

65

19. Panchayat Dighal Bank Athgachhiya 08.02.08 Middle School, Athgachhiya

20. Panchayat Dighal Bank Tarabari 08.02.08 Middle School,

Tarjhulla, Tarabari 21. Panchayat Dighal Bank Ekra 08.02.08 Panchayat Bhawan,

Ekra 22. Panchayat Bahadurganj Bangama 09.02.08 Primary School,

Singhia Dulali, Bangama

23. Panchayat Thakurganj Dumaria 09.02.08 Primary School, Dumaria

24. Panchayat Thakurganj Pawakhali 10.02.08 Middle School, Pawakhali

25. Panchayat Kochadhaman Majgama 11.02.08 Primary School, Mahiyarpur,

Majgama 26. Panchayat Thakurganj Duthowti 21.02.08 Ghasikura Haat

27. Panchayat Thakurganj Chhaital 21.02.08 Primary School,

Dugachhi 28. Panchayat Thakurganj Pateshri 21.02.08 Primary School,

Karuamani, Thakurganj

29. Panchayat Pothia Chhatargachh 22.02.08 Primary School, Chhatargachh

30. Panchayat Pothia Koltha 22.02.08 Mandir Campus, Koltha Colony

31. Panchayat Pothia Raipur 22.02.08 Panchayat Bhawan Campus, Raipur

32. Panchayat Thakurganj Rasia 23.02.08 Middle School, Rasia, Thakurganj

33. Panchayat Thakurganj Talpawa 23.02.08 Kadowgawn Haat, Thakurganj

34. Panchayat Thakurganj Jirangachha 23.02.08 Middle School, Jirangachha

35. Panchayat Thakurganj Churli 25.02.08 Madarsa Nural Islam, Birna Badi,

Thakurganj 36. Panchayat Thakurganj Besharbari 25.02.08 Middle School Churli 37. Panchayat Pothia Phala 26.02.08 Primary School,

Bargharia, Pothia 38. Panchayat Pothia Kusiary 26.02.08 Nimlagawan Haat

Campus 39. Panchayat Pothia Tipijhari 26.02.08 Middle School, jalu

Chowk

66

40. Panchayat Pothia Mirzapur 27.02.08 Middle School, Dalua Haat, Mirzapur

41. Panchayat Pothia Kasbakaliyganj 27.02.08 Gram Kachahari

Campus, Kasbakaliyganj

42. Panchayat Pothia Nowkatta 27.02.08

Middle School, Nowkatta, Pothia

43. Panchayat Pothia Saragara 28.02.08 Umar Middle School,

Haldibari, Pothia 44. Panchayat Pothia Budhara 28.02.08 Primary School,

Patila bhasa, Pothia 45. Panchayat Terhagachh Dakpokhar 01.03.08 Middle School,

Benugarh, Terhagachh

46. Panchayat Terhagachh Baigna 01.03.08 Middle School, Baigna, Terhagachh

47. Panchayat Terhagachh Jhunki Musahara

02.03.08 Primary School, Jhunki Musahara

48. Panchayat Terhagachh Bhorha 02.03.08 Gram Kachari, Phulbaria

49. Panchayat Terhagachh Haat Gawn 02.03.08 Primary School, Haat Gawn, Terhagachh

50. Panchayat Terhagachh Dhabeli 03.03.08 Middle School, Shishagachhi, Terhagachh

51. Panchayat Terhagachh Jhala 03.03.08 Primary Girl School, Jhala

52. Panchayat Terhagachh Matiyari 04.03.08 Middle School, Matiyari

53. Panchayat Katihar Sirnea West 12.11.08 Middle School, Haflaganj, Katihar

54. Panchayat Katihar Sirnea East 12.11.08 panchayat Bhawan Campus, Sirnea East

55. Panchayat Katihar Dehariya 13.11.08 Hawa Mahal, Sarifganj

56. Panchayat Katihar Dalan West 13.11.08 Middle School, Hajipur

57. Panchayat Katihar Gharveli 14.11.08 Middle School, Haflaganj, Katihar

58. Panchayat Katihar Katihar 14.11.08 Primary School, Dhusmer, - 1

59. Panchayat Katihar Dalan East 15.11.08 Panchayat Bhawan Campus, Dalan East

67

60. Panchayat Katihar Bhawara 16.11.08 Panchayat Bhawan Campus, Bhawara

61. Panchayat Hasanganj Rampur 16.11.08 Panchayat Bhawan Campus, Rampur

62. Panchayat Hasanganj Jagannathpur 16.11.08 Panchayat Bhawan Campus,

Jagnnathpur 63. Panchayat Hasanganj Kalsar 17.11.08 Middle School,

Bharra 64. Panchayat Hasanganj Blauwa 18.11.08 Middle School,

Balua, Hasanganj 65. Panchayat Hasanganj Dheruwa 18.1108 Primary School,

Dheruwa 66. Panchayat Dandkhora Souria 19.11.08 Middle School,

Souria 67. Panchayat Dandkhora Bhabhreli 19.11.08 Middle School,

Bhabhreli 68. Panchayat Dandkhora Dandkhora 20.11.08 Primary School,

Sangattola 69. Panchayat Dandkhora Dwashay 21.11.08 Middle School,

Dwashay 70. Panchayat Dandkhora Maheshpur 22.11.08 Middle School, Jabra71. Panchayat Dandkhora Raypur 22.11.08 Middle School,

Nawada, Raypur 72. Panchayat Mansahi Marangi 26.11.08 Middle School,

Marangi 73. Panchayat Mansahi Fulahra 26.11.08 Primary School,

Basantpur 74. Panchayat Mansahi Bhermara 27.11.08 Middle School, Hari

Prasad 75. Panchayat Mansahi Mohanpur 27.11.08 Primary School,

Karsal 76. Panchayat Mansahi Saheb Nagar 28.11.08 Middle School,

Mansahi 77. Panchayat Mansahi Chitoria 28.11.08 Middle School,

Ranipatra 78. Panchayat Mansahi Kuretha 29.11.08 Middle School,

Ekoina 79. Panchayat Pranpur Barjhalla 29.11.08 primary School,

Mohadwnagar 80. Panchayat Pranpur Bastoul 30.11.08 Middle School,

Bastoul 81. Panchayat Pranpur Pranpur 01.12.08 Middle School,

Siranda 82. Panchayat Pranpur Kathghar 02.12.08 Middle School,

Harsua

68

83. Panchayat Pranpur Pathawar 03.12.08 Middle School, Baina84. Panchayat Pranpur Dharhan 03.12.08 Middle School,

Dharhan 85. Panchayat Kordha Simaria North 04.12.08 Middle School,

Simaria, Shitalpur 86. Panchayat Kordha Simaria South 04.01.08 Primary School,

Nakkipur 87. Panchayat Kordha Madhura 05.12.08 Middle School,

Madhura 88. Panchayat Kordha Sandalpur 05.12.08 Middle School,

Makaipur 89. Panchayat Kordha Kheria 06.12.08 Middle School,

Kheria 90. Panchayat Amdabad Amdabad

North 07.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan,

Amdabad North 91. Panchayat Amdabad Baida 07.12.08 Middle School,

Bharat kal

92. Panchayat Amdabad Bhawanipur Khutti

08.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Bhawanipur Khutti

93. Panchayat Amdabad Durgapur 09.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Durgapur

94. Panchayat Amdabad Janglatal 10.12.08 Primary School, Jhola Bathna

95. Panchayat Amdabad Choukia Paharpur

10.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Choukia Paharpur

96. Panchayat Amdabad Bairia 11.12.08 Panchayat Bhwan, Bairia

97. Panchayat Amdabad Amdabad South

12.12.08 Middle School, Amdabad

98. Panchayat Amdabad Karmullapur North

13.12.08 Middle School, Balrampur

99. Panchayat Amdabad Karmullapur East

13.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan Campus,

Karmullapur East 100. Panchayat Amdabad Lakhanpur 14.12.08 Primary School,

Ghasiaghat 101. Panchayat Amdabad Kisanpur 14.12.08 Primary Middle

School, Lal Bathani 102. Panchayat Pranpur Lalganj North 15.12.08 Middle School,

Mandal 103. Panchayat Pranpur Lalganj South 15.12.08 Middle School,

Rashna 104. Panchayat Pranpur Kewala 16.12.08 Primary School,

Babhni

69

105. Panchayat Pranpur Kehunia 16.12.08 Middle School, Kehunia

106. Panchayat Pranpur Sahja 17.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Sahja

107. Panchayat Pranpur Gouripur 17.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Gouripur

108. Panchayat Barari Sukhasan 19.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Sukhasan

109. Panchayat Barari Bakia Sukhai 19.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Bakia Sukhai

110. Panchayat Barari Mohna Chandpur

20.12.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Mohna Chandpur

111. Panchayat Manihari Kumaripur 07.02.09 Middle School, Kumaripur

112. Panchayat Manihari Narayanpur 07.02.09 Primary School, Miyanpur

113. Panchayat Manihari Boulia 08.02.09 Primary School, Sarif Tola, Boulia

114. Panchayat Manihari Manoharpur 08.02.09 Haat Campus, Manoharpur

115. Panchayat Manihari North Katakosh

09.02.09 Panchayat Bhwan, North Katakosh

116. Panchayat Manihari South Katakosh

09.02.09 Samudayik Bhwan, South Katakosh

117. Panchayat Manihari Baghmara 10.02.09 Middle School, Patni Maheshpur

118. Panchayat Manihari Dilarpur 10.02.09 Middle School, Dilarpur

119. Panchayat Manihari Nawabganj 11.02.09 Middle School, Nawabganj

120. Panchayat Manihari Kewala 11.02.09 Middle School, Hanswer

121. Panchayat Kadwa Mohammadpur 12.02.09 Middle School, Durgaganj

122. Panchayat Kadwa Kumhari 12.02.09 Panchayat Bhwan, Kumhari

123. Panchayat Kadwa Bharri 13.02.09 Middle School, Bharri

124. Panchayat Kadwa Gopinagar

13.02.09 Middle School, Gopinagar

125. Panchayat Kadwa Gethoura

14.02.09 Panchayat Bhawan Campus

126. Panchayat Kadwa Kurshel

14.02.09 Panchayat Bhawan, Kurshel

127. Panchayat Kadwa Tetaliya

14.02.09 Tetaliya Hat Parisar

70

128. Panchayat Kadwa Kantiya 15.02.09 Middle School, Bubna Adrash,Sonuli

129. Panchayat Kadwa Kadwa

15.02.09 Anandi Middle School, Kadwa

130. Panchayat Kadwa Jaja

15.02.09 Panchayat Bhawan, Jaja

131. Panchayat Falka Sohtha North 16.02.09 Middle School, Gopalpatti

132. Panchayat Falka Sohtha South 16.02.09 Middle School, Bind Tola

133. Panchayat Falka Rahta 17.02.09 Middle School, Rahta

134. Panchayat Falka Pirmokan 17.02.09 Middle School, Pirmokan

135. Panchayat Falka Salehpur 18.02.09 Middle School, Salehpur

136. Panchayat Falka Govindpur 18.02.09 Primary School, Tapuwa, Govindpur

137. Panchayat Falka Bharshiya 19.02.09 Middle School, Bharshiya

138. Panchayat Falka Hathwara 19.02.09 Primary School, Amoun

139. Panchayat Falka Pothiya 20.02.09 Pothiya Hat, Pothiya

140. Panchayat Falka Shabda 20.02.09 Middle School, Pothia

141. Panchayat Kursela Muradpur East 21.02.09 Middle School, Basuhar, Mazdia

142. Panchayat Kursela Jarlahi 21.02.09 Primary School, Malinia dira

143. Panchayat Kursela Muradpur South

22.02.09 Primary School, Purani Bazar

144. Panchayat Kursela Muradpur West

22.02.09 Middle School, Indira Grram

145. Panchayat Kursela Sahdharmi 23.02.09 Samudayik Bhawan, Katariya

146. Panchayat Kursela Muradpur North

23.02.09 Middle School, Balthi Maheshpur

147. Panchayat Sameli Muradpur 24.02.09 Panchayat Bhwan Campus

148. Panchayat Sameli Chandpur East 24.02.09 Middle School, Chandpur

149. Panchayat Sameli Chandpur West

25.02.09 Primary School, Ram Nagar

150. Panchayat Sameli Malhariya 25.02.09 Middle School, Malhariya

71

151. Panchayat Sameli Khaira 26.02.09 Middle School, Khaira

152. Panchayat Sameli Dummar 26.02.09 Middle School, Dummar

153. Panchayat Sameli Chhohar 27.02.09 Middle School, Chhohar

154. Panchayat Sameli Chakla Moula Nagar

27.02.09 Panchayat Bhawan, Chakla Moula Nagar

155. Panchayat Barari Durgapur 28.02.09 Panchayat Bhawan, Durgapur

156. Panchayat Korha Bishhariya 01.03.09 Panchayat Bhawan, Bishhariya

157. Panchayat Korha Rajbara 07.12.09 Primary School, Laxmipur

158. Panchayat Korha Rootara 08.12.09 New Primary School, Dharamganj

159. Panchayat Korha Rampur 09.12.09 Middle School, Rampur

160. Panchayat Korha Dighari 10.12.09 Middle School, Dighari

161. Panchayat Korha Chandwa 11.12.09 Primary School, Chandwa

162. Panchayat Korha Baharkhal 12.12.09 Middle School, Sadalpur Kala

163. Panchayat Korha Musapur 14.12.09 New PrimarySchool, Musapur

164. Panchayat Korha Binodpur 15.12.09 Middle School, Sekh Tola

165. Panchayat Korha Basgarha 16.12.09 Middle School, Basgarha

166. Panchayat Korha Bishanpur 17.12.09 Shiv Mandir Chowk, Mawaiya

167. Panchayat Korha Babanganj 18.12.09 Gram Panchayat Campus

168. Panchayat Korha Makdampur 19.12.09 Middle School, Najra Chowki

169. Panchayat Korha Pawai 21.12.09 Primary School, Kishorganj, Pawai

170. Panchayat Korha Phulbaria 22.12.09 Kailash Singh New Primary School,

Phulbaria, Musahari 171. Panchayat Korha Mahinathpur 24.12.09 Primary School,

Mahinathpur

172. Panchayat Korha Bhatwara 26.12.09 Bal Vikas Pariyojna Centre, Bhatwara

72

173. Panchayat Barari Laxmipur 29.12.09 Middle School, Bhaisdira

174. Panchayat Barari Bishanpur 30.12.09 Middle School, Bakia, Bishanpur

175. Panchayat Barari Sujapur 31.12.09 Primary School, Sujapur

176. Panchayat Barari Shishia 02.01.10 Primary School, Kowamod

177. Panchayat Barari Rounia 04.01.10 Middle School, Rounia

178. Panchayat Barari Jagdishpur 05.01.10 Middle School, Jagdishpur

179. Panchayat Barari Kabar 06.01.10 Middle School, Kabar

180. Panchayat Barari Barari 07.01.10 Panchayat Bhawan, Barari

181. Panchayat Barari Bhandartal North

08.01.10 UPG Middle School, Baidanda

182. Panchayat Barari Bhandartal South

09.01.10 UPG Middle School, Uchala

183. Panchayat Kochadhaman Sundarbari 25.01.10 Madarsa Parisar, Kolha

184. Panchayat Kochadhaman Kutti 27.01.10 Primary School, Dhansona

185. Panchayat Kochadhaman Kochadhaman 29.01.10 Modern Public Academy,

Kochadhaman 186. Panchayat Kochadhaman Kathamatha 30.01.10 Panchayat Campus,

Kathamatha 187. Panchayat Kochadhaman Najarpur 10.02.10 Primary School,

Rasulganj 188. Panchayat Kochadhaman Moudhow 11.02.10 Bakali Tola Maszid 189. Panchayat Kochadhaman Bagalbari 15.02.10 Primary School,

Moujabarighaat, Bastakola East

190. Panchayat Kochadhaman Deramari 16.02.10 Primary School, Kashibari,

Santhalitola 191. Panchayat Kishanganj Pichala 08.03.10 Girls Middle School,

Pichala 192. Panchayat Kishanganj Mahingawn 08.03.10 Primary School,

Belwa, Kashibari 193. Panchayat Kishanganj Chakla 09.03.10 Primary School,

Sultanpur Ilyastola 194. Panchayat Kishanganj Gachhpara 09.03.10 Gram Kachahari,

Tengarmari

73

195. Panchayat Kishanganj Doula 10.03.10 Bal Vikas Pariyojana Centre, Doula

196. Panchayat Kishanganj Teusa 10.03.10 Gram Kachahari, Teusa

197. Panchayat Kishanganj Halamala 11.03.10 Gram Kachahari, parisar, Odra

198. Panchayat Kishanganj Belwa 11.03.10 Belwa Haat 199. Panchayat Kishanganj Singhiya

Kulamani 12.03.10 Kulamani Haat

200. Panchayat Kishanganj Motihara Taluka

12.03.10 Primary School, Amaljhari

BLOCK LEVEL PROGRAMME


Name of the Block

Panchyat Date Place

1. Block Katihar Dalan West 13.10.08 Middle School, Hajipur

2. Block Hasanganj Dheruwa 14.10.08 Premiry School, Dheruwa

3. Block Mansahi Marangi 15.10.08 Middle School, Marangi

4. Block Dandkhora Souriya 16.10.08 Middle School, Souriya

5. Block Barari Bakiya Sukhay 17.10.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Bakiya Sukhay

6. Block Khordha Simarriya North

18.10.08 Middle School, Shitalpur

7. Block Amdabad Janglatal 20.10.08 Pramiry School, Jholabathana

8. Block Pranpur Kathghar 21.10.08 Middle School, Harsuaa

9. Block Kordha Madhura 27.10.08 Middle School, Madhura (Girls)

10. Block Hasan Ganj Baluwa 28.10.08 Middle School, Baluwa (Santhali)

11. Block Mansahi Kuretha 29.10.08 Middle School, Eakuna

12. Block Dandkhora Dawasay 30.10.08 Middle School, Dawasay

13. Block Barari Sukhasan 31.10.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Sukhasan

14. Block Kordha Sandalpur 01.11.08 Middle School, Makeipur

74

15. Block Pranpur Patharwar 03.11.08 Middle School, Beina

16. Block Amdabad Karmillapur North

04.11.08 Middle School, Balrampur

17. Block Katihar Garbhali 06.11.08 Middle School, Batheili

18. Block Mansahi Dhermara 07.11.08 Middle School, Hari Prasad

19. Block Hasanganj Kalsar 08.11.08 Middle School, Bharra

20. Block Dandkhora Maheshpur 10.11.08 Middle School, Jabra

21. Block Katihar Serniya West 12.11.08 Middle School, Haplaganj

22. Block Barari Mohana Chand pur

13.11.08 Panchayat Bhawan, Mohna Chandpur

23. Block Amdabad Amdabad South

14.11.08 Middle School, Amdabad

24. Block Pranpur Lalganj North 15.11.08 Middle School, Mahadevpur

25. Block Sameli Dummar 06.01.09 Middle School, Dummar

26. Block Amdabad Lakhanpur 07.01.09 Primary School, Ghasiaghat

27. Block Manihari Dilarpur 08.01.09 Middle School, Dilarpur

28. Block Mansahi Mohanpur 09.01.09 Primary School, Karsal

29. Block Dandkhora Bhamraili 10.01.09 Middle School, Bhamraili

30. Block Kadwa Bharri 11.01.09 Middle School, Bharri

31. Block Hasanganj Jagannathpur 12.01.09 Panchayat Bhawan Campus,

Jagannathpur 32. Block Manihari Kumaripur 13.01.09 Middle School,

Kumaripur 33. Block Kursela Muradpur East 15.01.09 Middle School,

Basuhar, Mazdia 34. Block Sameli Khaira 16.09.09 Middle School,

Khaira 35. Block Falka Govindpur 17.01.09 Primary School,

Tapua, Govindpur 36. Block Katihar Dalan East 18.01.09 Panchayat Bhawan

Campus, Dalan East

75

37. Block Barari Durgapur 19.01.09 Panchayat Bhawan Campus, Durgapur

38. Block Kadwa Gopinagar 20.01.09 Middle School, Gopinagar

39. Block Manihari Boilia 21.01.09 Primary School, Sarif Tola, Boilia

40. Block Sameli Chandpur West

22.01.09 Primary School, Ramnagar

41. Block Falka Bharsiya 23.01.09 Middle School, Bharsiya

42. Block Kursela Muradpur South

24.01.09 Primary School, Purani Bazar

43. Block Korha Kheria 25.01.09 Middle School, Kheria

44. Block Kadwa Mohammadpur 27.01.09 Middle School, Durgaganj

45. Block Manihari Baghmara 28.01.09 Middle School, Patni, Maheshpur

46. Block Kursela Jarlahi 29.01.09 Primary School, Malinia Dira

47. Block Sameli Malharia 30.01.09 Middle School, Malharia

48. Block Falka Sohtha South 01.02.09 Middle School, Bind Tola

49. Block Pranpur Pranpur 02.02.09 Middle School, Siranda

50. Block Kadwa Kadwa 03.02.09 Anandi Middle School, Kadwa

51. Block Kursela Muradpur North

04.02.09 Middle School, Balthi Maheshpur

52. Block Falka Sohtha North 05.02.09 Middle School, Gopalpatti

53. Block Dighalbank Tulsiya 20.01.10 Primary School, Mirdhandangi

54. Block Kochadhaman Himmatnagar 22.01.10 Gariya Haat 55. Block Terdhagachh Kalpir 22.01.10 Middle School,

Bibiganj 56. Block Bahadurganj Sameshwar 23.01.10 Primary School,

Takiya 57. Block Kochadhaman Sontha 28.01.10 Middle School,

Sontha 58. Block Dighalbank Dhangarha 01.02.10 Middle School,

Dhangrha 59. Block Terdhagachh Baigana 02.02.10 Primary School,

Dubri Basti

76

60. Block Thakurganj Bandarjhula 03.02.10 Madarsa Campus, Bandarjhula

61. Block Kishanganj Teusa 04.02.10 Middle School,

Teusa 62. Block Bahadurganj Jhingakanta 05.02.10 Harijan Tola,

Dahgawn, Jurail

63. Block Pothiya Bhotathana 06.02.10 Primary School, Bhotathana

64. Block Thakurganj Dumariya 07.02.10 Middle School, Panchgachhi

65. Block Kishanganj Gachhpara 08.02.10 Primary School, Bahirkol – 1

66. Block Pothiya Raipur 13.01.10 Middle School, Dhobinia

67. Block Bahadurganj Chandwar Milik

17.02.10 Middle School, Chandwar

68. Block Dighalbank Tulsiya 18.02.10 Middle School Tulsiya

69. Block Kishanganj Belwa 19.02.10 UPG Middle School, Salki

70. Block Kochadhaman Kochadhaman 20.02.10 Middle School, Kochadhaman

71. Block Terdhagachh Khaniyabari 22.01.10 Panchayat Bhavan, Khaniyabari

72. Block Thakurganj Thakurganj Nagar

23.02.10 Middle School, Thakurganj

73. Block Terdhagachh Patkoi Kala 24.02.10 Haat Parisar, Patkoi 74. Block Pothiya Kasba

kaliyaganj 26.02.10 Middle School,

Kaliyaganj 75. Block Bahadurganj Bangama 02.03.10 Panchayat Bhavan

Parisar, Bangama 76. Block Kishanganj Doula 03.03.10 Panchayat Bhavan

Parisar, Doula 77. Block Terdhagachh Havakol 04.03.10 Panchayat Bhavan

Parisar, Havakol 78. Block Dighalbank Lohagara 05.03.10 Maszid parisar,

Lohagara 79. Block Thakurganj Rasiya 06.03.10 Panchayat Bhavan

Parisar, Rasiya 80. Block Pothiya Koltha 07.03.10 Panchayat Bhavan

Parisar, Koltha

77

DISTRICT LEVEL PROGRAMME


Name of the Block

Panchyat Date Place

1. District Katihar Katihar 25.10.08 Rajendra stedium katihar

2. District Katihar Falka 05.01.09 Project Girl High School,Falka

3. District Kishanganj Dighalbank 25.12.09 Middle School Tulsia

4. District Kishanganj Kishanganj 15.03.10 Middle School Chakla

5. District Dighalbank Mangura 25.02.10 Middle School, Tappu Haat

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