SOCIAL

SCIENC
E
PROJEC
T
BY GAYATHRI GIRISH
CHEMBATTAMMAL
10-A
CONSUME
R
RIGHTS
Index
- Acknowledgement
- Introduction
- About the
consumer
- Exploitation
- Consumer
Movements
- Important Days
- Consumer Rights
- Being a Well-
Informed
Consumer
- Quality Standard
Marks
Acknowledgeme
nt
I am grateful to my teacher Ms. Bessy Kumar
to allow me to do this project, as well as my
principal Ms. Lalitha Suresh.
I am also thankful to all the sources I have
been provided that enables me to complete
this project, as well as the people who have
given me the support and views I needed to
finish the project.
And not to mention, the feedback I have been
provided by my friends and family which has
been crucial on my journey to perfect this
project word by word, line by line. All in all, I
hope that my project will allow for others to be
more aware of their rights as a consumer and
learn something new about this topic. My
sincere thanks again to everyone that has
helped me.

Thank you,
Gayathri Girish
 Introducti
on
We as humans participate
in the market almost daily,
maybe as producers or as
consumers. Nonetheless,
we avail services of the
market and buy goods to
satisfy our needs. Although
sometimes, even after we
avail the advantages of
the market, we may be left
feeling unsatisfi ed due to a
high cost on a seemingly
unnecessary product, or
due to lack of quality or
warranty. We may even be
tricked as most producers
are only after what profi ts
them the most, not the
consumers. Due to these
various reasons, we as
consumers, need to be
more aware of our rights
to avoid these type of
malpractices in the
marketplace.
So, What Constitutes
a Consumer?
A consumer is someone who
- Avails the services or goods
of a supplier with the
intention of paying for them
- Purchases goods or services
for personal consumption
- Are the fi nal users of a
product or services, the use
is fi nal in the sense that the
product will not be amplifi ed
or improved after the use.

Consumers in the
Common
Marketplace
Individual consumers in the
marketplace often fi nd
themselves in a weak position.
When there is a complaint
against a producer, the blame is
shifted to the consumer for
buying the product or opting to.
Large companies often
manipulate the market for their
own need and greed, dismissing
the consumers welfare and
needs. Going as far as to
manipulate the consumers too
with false information which
Consumers
may be detrimental to society.

Protection
Consumer protection is the
practice of safeguarding the
interest and rights of the buyers
of goods and services, and the
public against unfair practices
in the marketplace. Consumer
protection measures are usually
established under the law.
HOW ARE CONSUMERS
EXPLOITED?

As the market is ever-growing, it is

common to find almost all our needs in
the market available for us to avail. It also
means that new ways to exploit
consumers are being discovered. These
are some of the common ways how
consumers are exploited.
- The goods sold are usually of sub-
standard quality.
- The traders often sell the product for a
higher price than their retail price.
- Fake ornaments or items are sold in
the name of genuine, real parts.
- To create an influx of profit, producers
create an artifi cial scarcity where
they sell the product at a higher price
later.
- Advertisements and companies mislead
the consumers by lending out false
information or misinformation to
generate profit, which may prove to be
detrimental to society.
CONSUMERS CAUSED
EXPLOITATION

Even though the producers are the main

causers of exploitation, there are some
factors which may allow the producers
to take advantage of the consumer and
exploit them. These are mentioned
below.
- Producers take advantage of the
consumers limited information
about a product or service, namely
price, quality, condition, use etc. This
may lead the consumers to make
wrong decisions and lose money.
- Consumers are exploited when there
are limited supplies for a certain
product or service.
- When there is only one producer of a
certain product, it leads to limited
competition which may lead to the
consumer being exploited by that
certain producer.
- Illiteracy is also one of the major
reasons why many consumers are
exploited in the marketplace.
The consumer movement arose out of dissatisfaction
of the consumers as many unfair practices were
being used by the sellers. There was no legal
system available to consumers to protect them from
exploitation in the marketplace.

In India, the consumer movement as a ‘social force’

originated with the necessity of protecting and
promoting the interests of consumers against
unethical and unfair trade practices. Rampant food
shortages, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration
of food, and edible oil gave birth to the consumer
movement in an organized form in the 1960s. Till
the 1970s, consumer organizations were largely
engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions.
They formed groups to investigate the unfair
practices in ration shops and overcrowding in road
passenger transport. More recently, India witnessed
an upsurge in the number of consumer groups.

These movements fi nally succeeded in bringing

pressure on the businesses as well as the
government to correct business conduct which may
be unfair and against the interests of consumers at
large. A major step was taken in 1986 by the Indian
government was the enactment of the Consumer
Protection Act 1986, popularly known as COPRA.

Consumer
Movements
CONSUMER
PROTECTION ACT,
1986 (COPRA)

The Consumer Protection Act,

1986 was enacted to provide
a simpler and quicker access
to redressal of consumer
grievances. The Act for the
first time introduced the
concept of ‘consumer’ and
conferred express additional
rights on him. It was
enforced from July 1 st , 1987.
Its motive was to protect the
consumers from being
exploited by shopkeepers or
markets to maximize profits
which eventually harm the
wellbeing of the consumers
and society
 Three-Tier System

- District Forum
A complaint can be made to the District Forum when
the value of goods or services along with the
compensation do not exceed ₹20 lakh. The appeal
against the orders of the District Forum can also be
fi lled before the State Commission.

- State Commission
A complaint can be made to the State Commission when
the value of goods or services along with the
compensation does exceed ₹20 lakh but does exceed ₹1
crore. The appeal against the orders of the State
Commission can also be fi lled before the National
Commission.

- National Commission
A complaint can be made to the National Commission
when the value of goods or services along with the
compensation exceeds ₹1 crore. An order passed by the
National Commission in a matter of its original
jurisdiction is appealable before the Supreme Court.

Due to the three-tier system, it has en abled us as

consumers to have the right to represent in the
Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions.
Important
Days

- National Consumer Rights

Day
24 th December of every year is observed as
National Consumer Right Day. It was first
celebrated in 2013.

- World Consumer Rights Day

Every year 15 th March is observed as World
Consumer Rights Day as it commemorates
a historic declaration by famous US
President John F. Kennedy of four basic
consumer rights.
CONSUMER RIGHTS

- Right to Safety
While using many goods and services, we as
consumers have the right to be protected
against the marketing of goods and delivery
of services that are hazardous to life and
property. Producers need to strictly follow
the required safety rules and regulations.
- Right to Be Informed
Consumers have the right to be informed
about the particulars of goods and services
that they purchase such as manufacturing
date, retail price, etc.
- Right to Choose
This right gives the freedom to the
consumer to choose any product or service
that they desire from the seller of their
choice at a competitive price.
- Right to Be Heard
This right enables the consumer to fi le a
complaint against a product or service that
they feel dissatisfi ed by and to be heard in
Consumer Court.
- Right to Seek Redressal
The consumer has the right to seek relief in
case the product falls short of the
consumers expectation.
CONSUMER RIGHTS

- Right to Consumer Education

A consumer has a right to have knowledge
about their rights or matters regarding
consumers protection to be well informed
consumer.

NATIONAL CONSUMER HELPLINE

1800-11-4000
As a consumer we must know of our
responsibilities and rights as a
consumer and continue to educate
ourselves and others about the various
rights and interests.
We must also be wise enough to make
the right decisions based on the
product or services aff ordability,
quality and warranty.
Follow the manufacturers instructions
carefully and use the product or
service safely.
Being aware of our rights as a
consumer and making the right and
rational decisions may help influence
people to do same and end the cycle of
consumer exploitation.

Being a Well-
Informed Consumer
Quality
- Hallmark
Standa
rd
Marks
These are marks
that provide the
consumer with
assurance of
quality of a It is a certifi cation scheme
product from a issued by the Bureau of Indian
reliable source. Standard to the judge the purity
The Government
of India has of gold and sliver ornaments.
provided Quality - Agmark
Standard Marks to
almost every
product available
in the market.

It is a certifi cation scheme

issued by Directorate of
Marketing and Inspection of the
Government of India for
agricultural products. This marks
ensures that the marked
products conforms to a set of
standards.
Quality
- ISI Mark
Standa
rd
Marks It is a certifi cation mark for
industrial products issued by the
Bureau of Indian Standard. It is
These are marks both mandatory or voluntary. If a
that provide the
consumer wants to purchase
consumer with
assurance of electronic or industrial products,
quality of a they must make sure that the ISI
product from a mark is present on the product.
reliable source.
The Government - FPO Mark
of India has
provided Quality
Standard Marks to
almost every
product available
in the market.
It is a mandatory certifi cation
mark for all ‘processed fruit
products’ in India issued by the
Ministry of Food Processing. This
marks ensures that the product
is not harmful for humans and
that the product is manufactured
under a clean and safe
environment.
Quality
- Eco Mark
Standa
rd
Marks
These are marks It is a certifi cation scheme for
that provide the
eco friendly products issued by
consumer with
assurance of the Bureau of Indian Standard.
quality of a Products having this marks
product from a confi rms that it has less impact
reliable source.
on the environment.
The Government
of India has - Vegetarian & Non-
provided Quality
Vegetarian Marks
Standard Marks to
almost every
product available
in the market.

It has been made mandatory by

the Indian Government for
packaged food being sold in
India to have a green symbol for
vegetarian products and
red/brown symbol for non-
vegetarian products to
distinguish between them.
Quality
- FSSAI
Standa
rd
Marks
FSSAI stands for Food Safety and
Standard Authority of India. It is
These are marks
that provide the a certifi cation mark for food
consumer with items such as dairy products,
assurance of fats, oil, fruits & vegetables,
quality of a
cereal, beverages etc. which
product from a
reliable source. proves that the product is safe
The Government and meets the set of standards
of India has approved by the FSSAI.
provided Quality
Standard Marks to
almost every
product available
in the market.
THAN
K YOU