Right To Consumer Education Right To Consumer Education

Prof.(Dr.) C.RajashekharProf.(Dr.) C.Rajashekhar

Chairman Chairman

Post-Graduate Department of Studies in LawPost-Graduate Department of Studies in Law

Karnatak UniversityKarnatak University

Dharwad Dharwad

Meaning of Consumer Education (CE)

“Consumer Education is a process by which consumers develop skills to make informal decisions in the purchase of goods and services …”

- U.S.Dept.of Education

To educate the consumer as to what, where, when how and how much to buy and to use what they have bought.

Need for Consumer Education in India Need for Consumer Education in India

Three-Fourths population rural based. Total 164.8mn House holds /87.7 mn households under

low income group. Consumers are not homogenous Consumers vulnerable to deceit, Fraud, and Exploitation Dumping of shoddy products and spurious drugs in rural

market. Consumer not the king. Consumers need to be made aware of their rights and

remedies. Awareness empowers consumers.

UN Guidelines on Consumer Education UN Guidelines on Consumer Education

Impose obligation on governments to develop general consumer education and information

Aim of UN Programme to enable people to make informed choice of goods and

services To make conscious of their rights and responsibilities Special attention to the needs of disadvantaged

consumers To make consumer education an integral part of

curriculum.

Areas covered under CEAreas covered under CE

Health, Nutrition, food borne diseases and food adulteration

Product hazards Product labelling Redressal of grievances Weights and measures, prices, quality, credit

conditions. Involving VCOs, Media Training Programmes

Consumer Awareness in India Consumer Awareness in India

Survey Findings Survey Findings 1.Independent Evaluation of the CPA, 1986 by IIPA in 1994.

1168 Respondents 16.44% awareness of the Act

2.Survey by ORG Centre for Social Research by the CAG, 2005. 48,732 Respondents 82% were unaware of the Act 66% were not aware of consumer rights

3. Findings of IDCG survey, 2012 11.99 respondents/88 districts/19 states 40% respondents are aware about consumer rights 41% not aware

India’s Consumer Awareness and Education India’s Consumer Awareness and Education Programme Programme

(1) Multimedia campaign –from 2005-06 Promoting awareness –Radio, TV, Internet. Jago Grahak Jago Out door campaign Publicity through Electronic Media Use of Internet.

Contd…Contd….

(2) Role of NGOs / VCOs- At grass root level

(3) Role of Educational Institutions Schools, Colleges- consumer clubs Fellowships for Research Training workshop for University/College

teachers Chairs of Excellence –NLSIU

Evaluation and MonitoringEvaluation and Monitoring

Regular Meeting of Multimedia Committee

Representation from IB/DAVP/DD/AIR/VCOs.

Consumer Advice CentersConsumer Advice Centers

On Pilot basis in 4 States

Provide up to date, reliable information and independent consultation.

Comparative Testing Results Comparative Testing Results

Effective consumer awareness function

Executed by Two VCOs.

(a) Voice Society- “Consumer Voice”

(b) CERC- “Insight”. Test and Report 10-12 products/year

Recommendations Recommendations

Public campaign to upgrade from “Jago Grahak Jago” to “Assert Rights, Pursue Remedies”.

Awareness Programme to be pursued aggressively at Taluk /District Levels

Consumer education to be included in curriculum from primary to college level

Monitoring consumer clubs, District Consumer Protection Councils, information centers through VCOs.

Contd…Contd…

Resource material for training teachers. Publication of newsletters by college to be funded. Enhancing comparative testing capacity. Enhancing availability of consumer journals. Involvement of journalists. Setting up of National Consumers Protection

Authority.

- to deal with misleading, indecent advertisements

Thank you