Consumer Awareness

Index
Consumer Awareness and its need Various forms of consumer exploitation Consumer rights Role of producers on protecting consumer rights Legislative measures Consumer protection act 1986

expanding globalization and liberalization process has increased the number of consumer related issues. Consumer protection has earned an important place in the political, economic and social agendas of many nations. In India, the Government has taken many steps including legislative, to protect consumers. Consumer awareness is making the consumer aware of His/her rights. Consumer awareness it a marketing term. It means that consumers note or are aware of products or services, its characteristics and the other marketing P's (place to buy, price, and promotion). Usually commercials and ads increase consumer awareness, as well as "word of mouth".

INTRODUCTION THE PROCESS of development along with the

Consumer Awareness And its Needs

The necessity of adopting measures to protect the interests of consumers arises mainly due to the helpless position of the consumers.

Therefore, Consumer should be aware of the following

Be quality conscious Beware of misleading advertisements Responsibility to inspect a variety of goods before making selection Collect proof of transactions

Consumers must be aware of their Rights

Complain for genuine grievance Proper use of product or services

Various forms of consumer exploitation

Sale of adulterated goods. Sale of sub-standard goods. Sale of duplicate goods. Use of false weights and measures. Hoarding and black-marketing leading to scarcity and rise in price. Charging more than the MRP. Supply of defective goods. Misleading advertisements.

Factors causing exploitation of Consumers

1. Limited Information providing full and correct information will help in the choice 2. Limited Supplieswhen goods and services are in short supply then price shoots up 3. Limited Competition.single producer may manipulate the market in terms of price and stocks. 4. Low Literacy.illiteracy leads to exploitation. Hence Consumer

CONSUMER RIGHTS

Right to safety Right to be informed Right to choose Right to be heard Right to seek redressal Right to consumer education

Role of Producers in protecting consumer rights

Social responsibility Increasing awareness Consumer satisfaction Principle of social justice Principle of trusteeship

Duties of a consumer
1. Get a bill for every important purchase and also the Warranty card 2. Check the ISI mark or Agmark on the goods 3. Form consumer awareness groups 4. Make a complaint on genuine grievances. 5. Consumers must know to exercise their

Consumer protection measures

Lok adalat Public interest litigation(PIL) Redressal forums and consumer Protection councils Awareness programme Consumer organizations Consumer welfare fund Legislative measures

Legislative measures

Drug control act 1950 Agricultural products act 1951 Industries act 1951 Prevention of food adulteration act 1954 Essential commodities act 1955 Standards of weights and measures act 1956 Monopolies and restrictive trade practices act 1969 Prevention of black marketing and maintenance of essential supplies act 1980

Consumer
It came into force from 1 July,1987.The main objective of this act is to provide better and all-round protection to consumers and effective safeguards against different types of exploitation such as defective goods,deficiet services, and unfair trade practices.

protection Act,1986

SALIENT FEATURES OF THIS ACT

It applies to all goods ,services and unfair trade practices unless specifically exempted by the central government. It covers all sectors. It provides a statutory recognition to the six rights of consumers

Details a costumer must know before buying a substance

Summary
The need for consumer protection arises due to the helplessness of the consumers. They dont exercise their rights due to lack of awareness. Exploitation in market place happens in various ways. E.G-sometimes traders indulge in unfair trade practices such as when shopkeepers weight less than what they should or when traders add charges that were not mentioned before Or when adulterated goods are sold. The main aim of consumer protection is to provide better and all round protection to consumers. The six consumer rights were included in the Consumer Protection Act 1986.

MADE BYToyesh Singh