What is Consumerism? 1.

Consumerism is an organized movement of citizens and government to strengthen the rights and power of buyers in relation to sellers. 2. Consumerism refers to the wide range of activities of government business and independent organizations designed to protect rights of the consumers. 3. Consumerism is a collective consciousness on the part of consumers, business, government and civil society to enhance consumer satisfaction and social welfare which will in turn benefit all and finally make the society a better place to live in. 4. The consumer is exposed to many hazard - physical, environmental and exploitation due to unfair trade practices. 5. The consumer needs protection against products which are unsafe for consumption such as drugs and adulterated food products and products which may cause injury such as defective electrical appliances. 6. Consumer needs protection against mal-practices and deceit by sellers. 7. Consumer should have adequate rights of seek justice against faulty businessmen. 8. In our Indian system, the consumer has six rights given for his protection from exploitation from sellers. 9. Consumer exploitation means mistreatment or cheating with consumer by adulteration, Thagi or in any other unfair form. 10. To prevent consumer from exploitation, our government have passed many Acts from time to time. 11. Some of them are as follows:1. Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940 2. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 3. Essential Commodity (supply) Act, 1955 4. Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 5. Standard of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 6. Consumer Protection Act, 1986

Why Consumerism needed in India: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Short Supply of goods & services Lack of effective competition Unfamiliarity of customers with product features Low literacy level and unsatisfactory information flow Time consuming legal process Consumerism not well developed & organized Public sector monopoly Ineffective implementation of laws