To enable consumers to exercise this right, both the state and voluntary agencies are expected to provide such forums. . Right to seek redressal: Every consumer has the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation. It also includes the right to fair settlement of genuine grievances.
It involves the right to receive compensation for faulty goods and services. . Right to Consumer Education: This refers to every person’s right to acquire knowledge and skill to be an informed consumer, so that s/he will be able to make wise decisions while purchasing goods and hiring services. This right implies that the consumer should be educated enough to be able to solve the problem himself.
A ctivity Divide the class into two groups. Group A will deal with consumer rights and Group B with consumer responsibilities. Group A: Talk to three people in your locality and find out the extent of their knowledge about consumer rights. Group B: Talk to three people in your locality and find out awareness about consumer responsibilities among them.
Discuss your findings in the class and suggest what can be done to increase awareness about consumer rights. Another mechanism of consumer protection is through standardisation marks. Consumers must purchase products with standardisation mark to ensure the quality/purity of the product. It is important for the consumer to know about different standard marks and the products covered under them.
Standardisation is a prime requisite for attaining quality. Let us learn more about these standard marks. ISI Mark: This is the certification mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), earlier called the Indian Standards Institution (ISI). Under this scheme, licences are issued to manufacturers whose goods meet the relevant standards.
Indian standards cover food items such as vegetables, fruits and meat products, spices and condiments, processed foods, cereal and soya products, candies and beverages etc. Other products covered by with the BIS standards include electrical goods, soaps, detergents, paints, paper etc. Among the various items covered under the scheme, some are under mandatory certification. AGMARK and fruit Product Order (FPO): These standards have