Right To Consumer Education

1. Right To Consumer Education Prof.(Dr.) C.Rajashekhar Chairman Post-Graduate Department of Studies in Law Karnatak University Dharwad

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Areas 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

6. Consumer Awareness in India 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 IDCGsurvey, 2012 • 11.99 respondents/88 districts/19 states • 40% respondents are aware about consumer rights • 41% not aware

7. India’s Consumer Awareness and Education 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.

8. 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

9. Evaluation and Monitoring • Regular Meeting of Multimedia Committee • Representation from IB/DAVP/DD/AIR/VCOs.

10. Consumer Advice Centers • On Pilot basis in 4 States • Provide up to date, reliable information and independent consultation.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. Thank you