Sst actibity

Loki boi
Introduction

• Consumers play an important role in the market. The

market for a good or service constitutes all the consumers
and producers of that good or service. If there is no
consumer, producers will have no one to provide the good.
• there are regularly reported cases of exploitation of the
consumer. Often less than the actual weight of foodstuff is
sold to consumers, or many retailers sell products that are
not certified. Many cases happen where more than the
market price is charged to the consumer. In the light of this,
consumer protection holds an important role.
Who is consumer

• A person who buys a good or service for his own personal

use and not for further manufacture is called a consumer
Any person, other than the buyer who buys the product or
services, and consumes the product by taking his/her
permission is categorized as a consumer. Any single or
group of people, other than the buyer who buys the product
or services, consumes the product by seeking his/her
permission falls under the category of a consumer. In
simpler words, the consumer can be termed as the end-
user of the goods or services.
Duties of consumer

• In the way that the government has given each and every consumer a set of rights, it
is the responsibility of the consumer to also follow through on several duties provided
to them.
• he following are some of the important consumer responsibilities or the duties of
consumers
• Consumers must make sure that the product they are purchasing is of good quality,
and have been quality marked such as Agmark, ISI, Hallmark, etc. Consumers should
always make sure that they have seen and understood all the information available
about a product and make an informed choice.
• Consumers should follow the rules and not be unlawful while purchasing
commodities. Consumers should always insist on bills of purchase from the seller so
that if there is a problem with the purchase, the issue can immediately be sorted out.
• Consumers have the responsibility to call out exploitative behaviour and unfair trade
practices on the part of a seller. Consumers must form organizations that are non-
political to express consumer needs and requirements.
How consumers are exploited

• These are the five ways in which consumers are exploited in the market:
• 1. False Advertising- making deceptive and misleading claims in the advertisements of the
products.

• 2. Deceptive Pricing- Very often traders charge deceptive and high prices from their consumers
than the prescribed retail price.

• 3. Deceptive Billing- It may sometimes happen that traders sell fake or duplicate goods in the name
of genuine goods.

• 4. Misuse of Customer Data- The information or data collected by the customers at the time of sale
can be misused.

• 5.Substandard quality The traders may cheat the consumers by degrading the quality of the
product and selling those in the market like expired products, defective items.
Factors causing exploitation of
consumers
• factors causing exploitation of consumers are:
• (1) Limited Information: low amount of information about their market which leads to the
lesser growth of the market
• (2) Limited supplies:To gain more profit, quality of production is neglected and the products
are also adulterated.
• [3]Lack of knowledge: Sometimes consumers do not get full information about the quality of
the product and they have to buy inferior quality goods at higher prices.
• [4]Lack of coordination: The interest of the consumer is not protected because there is no
coordination amongst the consumers, traders, manufacturers, and the government.
• (5) Irregular prices offered:sometimes in market if a foreigners comes to the market most of
the time people will increase the price more then the MRP because they don’t know about
the info of the products price, details etc.
• Misleading advertisements :The guidelines seek to ensure that consumers are not being
fooled with unsubstantiated claims, exaggerated promises, misinformation and false claims.
Such advertisements violates various rights of consumers such as right to be informed, right
to choose and right to be safeguarded against potentially unsafe products and services.For
example:The Supreme Court rebuked Patanjali Ayurved for disseminating misleading
advertisements, leading to a ban on its marketing activities
Consumer Movemnet

• Due to shortage of food, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of edible oil

and food, there was rampant exploitation of consumers. Hence, it gave rise to
the consumer movement in the 1960 s. This movement was in an organised
form.
• There was no legal system in India to protect the consumers in the
marketplace which resulted in rampant exploitation.
• In 1986, the Consumer Protection Act was enacted by the Government of
India. This was a crucial step in the evolution of the consumer movement in
India to protect the rights of the consumers. This law is usually known as
COPRA.
• Under the provision of COPRA, a three-tier quasi judicial system was
established at the district, national and state levels. This was done to redress
the consumer grievances.
 Need of consumer movement

• there were no consumer movement, several significant consequences could arise:

Lack of Consumer Protection: Without the consumer movement, there would be fewer
regulations and protections in place to safeguard consumers from unfair practices, such as
false advertising, unsafe products, and exploitative pricing1.
• Reduced Product Quality and Safety: Companies might not feel compelled to maintain high
standards for product quality and safety. This could lead to an increase in defective or
dangerous products on the market1.
• Limited Consumer Rights: Consumers would have fewer rights and less recourse when
dealing with issues related to products and services. This could make it more challenging to
resolve disputes or seek compensation for damages1.
• Increased Corporate Power: Corporations could have more power and influence over the
market, potentially leading to monopolistic practices and reduced competition. This could
result in higher prices and fewer choices for consumers1.
• Environmental and Ethical Concerns: The absence of consumer advocacy could lead to less
emphasis on ethical and sustainable business practices. Companies might prioritize profits
over environmental protection and social responsibility
Consumer movement in india
• The consumer movement in India has evolved significantly
over the years, driven by the need to protect and promote
consumer interests against unethical and unfair trade
practices. Here are some key details:
Historical Background:
• . During the Mughal period, measures were taken to control
profiteering and ensure food security.
• Post-Independence: The consumer movement gained
momentum in the 1960s due to rampant food shortages,
hoarding, black marketing, and adulteration of food and
edible oil.
• Key Milestones
• Consumer Protection Act, 1986: This landmark legislation was a significant step in safeguarding consumer rights. It
led to the establishment of consumer courts and the creation of various consumer organizations1.
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019: This updated act introduced new provisions, including e-commerce regulations,
product liability, and stricter penalties for misleading advertisements1.
• Consumer Organizations
• Several organizations have played a crucial role in advocating for consumer rights in India:

• Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI): One of the oldest consumer organizations, established in 1966.
• Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC): Founded in 1978, it focuses on consumer education and
advocacy1.
• Challenges and Achievements
• Challenges: Despite the progress, many consumers remain unaware of their rights and the existence of consumer
organizations. There is also a need for more unified action and stronger enforcement of consumer protection laws1.
• Achievements: The consumer movement has led to increased awareness, better product standards, and more robust
legal frameworks to protect consumers1.
• The consumer movement in India continues to evolve, aiming to ensure fairness, safety, and transparency in the
marketplace.
Consumer protection act 1986

• The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (COPRA) was a landmark legislation

in India aimed at protecting consumer rights and providing a
mechanism for the redressal of consumer grievances. Here are some
key details:
• 1]Protection of Consumer Rights: The Act aimed to protect consumers
from unfair trade practices, defective goods, and deficient services.
• 2]Establishment of Consumer Councils: It provided for the
establishment of consumer councils at the national, state, and district
levels to promote and protect consumer rights.
• 3]Redressal Mechanism: The Act established consumer dispute
redressal agencies at the district, state, and national levels to address
consumer complaints and provide speedy and inexpensive justice.
• Key Features
• Consumer Rights: The Act recognized six consumer rights,
including the right to safety, the right to be informed, the
right to choose, the right to be heard, the right to redress,
and the right to consumer education.
rights

• As an individual living in any country and consuming goods and services, it is necessary
that we all know what rights we have in this position, and also what responsibilities we
need to have. There are six important consumer rights that have been listed down for
the people of India by the government of India; these rights are as follows:
• Right to Safety: This is the right of the consumer to be protected against the marketing
of any commodity, goods and services which are in the interest of harm towards them.

• Right to Be Informed: The consumer has the right to be informed about the commodity
they are purchasing. This pertains to the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and
price of the good or service at hand.

• Right to Choose: The consumer should have proper access to the market to make an
informed choice between selected goods and services. In a market where there is a
monopoly, this right extends to warranting a fair price for a good or service.
• Right to Be Heard:This is the right extended to consumers to be heard at the
appropriate forums for voicing out concerns and also representing ideas and
visions for consumer welfare.

• Right to Seek Redressal:The right to seek redressal is one of the fundamental

rights provided by the Indian Constitution to its people. When pertaining to
consumer rights, it is the right of consumers to seek redressal in case of any
unfair practices in trade or exploitation of the consumer.

• Right to Consumer Education:The right to consumer education focuses on

spreading the meaning of consumer awareness and having each citizen and
consumer know what consumer rights are. Information about consumer rights
must be given to all consumers, which is ensured by this right.
Where should consumer go get justice

• Consumers in India seeking justice for grievances related to goods or

services can approach the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions.
These are quasi-judicial bodies established under the Consumer
Protection Act. Here’s a breakdown of where to go based on the value of
the claim:

• District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (District Forum): For claims

up to ₹20 lakhs.
• State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (State Commission): For
claims between ₹20 lakhs and ₹1 crore.
• National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (National
Commission): For claims exceeding ₹1 crore12.