Nagpur, Dec 22
The government is least bothered about consumer rights and have completely neglected consumer issues during Covid pandemic. Consumers faced lot of issues during the pandemic from ration card update, electricity bills to the quality of essential goods, but the district consumer forum has not met from last 9 months. Tall claims are made about consumer protectionism, but the reality is totally different. The consumers associations are also miffed with the attitude of the administration and some even went to the extent of saying that government is not serious on this issue. While the consumer forum’s role was very crucial during the Covid pandemic, no meeting took place and hence consumer issues cannot be addressed.
National Consumer Day is celebrated on December 24, and the government has just kept an online webinar for formality. The government is mum from last nine months on consumer issues. The consumer issues are highlighted through district consumer protection councils. Under the 1986 Act, representatives of client organisations are members of this council. Consumer matters are kept in the council meeting every month.
Consumers could not take advantage of the validity of the product. In the matters related to food and drink, the Weights and Measurement department was very lethargic.
Due to this, customers were fleeced. In the case of education also, the problem of consumers remained. But due to no meeting, these matters could not be placed before the administration.
The last meeting was held on International Consumer Day in January. Now a meeting is being held on National Consumer Day after nine months.
FDA, weights & measurements
dept remained helpless
National president of anti-adulteration consumer society and member of district consumer protection council, Md Shahid Sharif said that during the Covid period, FDA administration remained helpless under the pressure from city businessmen. The action of the department of weights and measurement was also sluggish. Due to this, consumers were looted. There was a need to pay special attention to the items being given to the consumers during Covid. Even now the situation remains the same. Action is being taken for a formality and due to abscence of meetings, consumer cases have been overlooked.
Customer service is considered
a burden by the administration
Pramod Pandey, president of the consumer organisation Jan Manch and member of the district consumer protection council, said that the administration is considering customer service a burden. Consumer matters are not being taken seriously. There were many consumer cases during Covid. The meeting could have been taken, but even after the unlock came into effect, the administration did not pay attention to it. The administration''s apathy towards consumer affairs is still intact.