ISI and Agmark While buying many commodities, on the cover, you might have seen a logo with the letters ISI, Agmark, Hallmark or +F. These logos and certification help consumers get assured of quality while purchasing the goods and services. The organisations that monitor and issue these certificates allow producers to use their logos provided they follow certain quality standards. Though these organisations develop quality standards for many products, it is not compulsory for all the producers to follow standards.
However, for some products that affect the health and safety of consumers or of products of mass consumption like LPG cylinders, food colours and additives, cement, packaged drinking water, it is mandatory on the part of the producers to get certified by these organisations. India has been observing December as the National Consumers’ Day. It was on this day that the Indian Parliament enacted the Consumer Protection Act in . India is one of the countries that have exclusive authority for consumer redressal.
The consumer movement in India has made some progress in terms of numbers of organised groups and their activities. There are today more than consumer groups in the country of which only about - are well organised and recognised for their work. However, the consumer redressal process is becoming cumbersome, expensive and time consuming. Many a time, consumers are required to engage lawyers.
These cases require . Look at the posters and cartoons in this chapter. Think of any particular commodity and the aspects that need to be looked at as a consumer. Design a poster for this.
. Find out the nearest Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for your area. . What is the difference between consumer protection council and Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission?
. The Consumer Protection Act ensures the following as rights which every consumer in India should possess (i) Right to choice. (iv) Right to representation. (ii) Right to information.
(v) Right to safety. (iii) Right to redressal. (vi) Right to consumer education. Categorise the following cases under different heads and mark against each in brackets.
(a) Lata got an electric shock from a newly purchased iron. She complained to the shopkeeper immediately. ( ) (b) John is dissatisfied with the services provided by MTNL/BSNL/TATA INDICOM for the past few months. He files a case in the District Level Consumer Commission.
( ) (c) Your friend has been sold a medicine that has crossed the expiry date and you are advising her to lodge a complaint ( ). (d) Iqbal makes it a point to scan through all the particulars given on the pack of any item that he buys. ( ) (e) You are not satisfied with the services of the cable operator catering to your locality but you are unable to switch over to anybody else. ( ) (f) You realise that you have received a defective camera from a dealer.
You are complaining to the head office persistently ( ). . If the standardisation ensures the quality of a commodity, why are many goods available in the market without ISI or Agmark certification? .
Find out the details of who provides Hallmark and ISO certification.