Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution is celebrating the National Consumer Day 2016 with the theme
“Alternate Consumer Disputes Redressal” on 24th Dec 2016.
Alternative dispute resolution is being practiced in resolving civil disputes.
The Consumer Protection Bill 2015 also has a chapter related to mediation, one of the ADR mechanisms.
New initiatives of the department on consumer grievance redressal and consumer education, leveraging new age technologies will be launched.
National Consumer Day is observed on Dec 24. On this day, the President assented to the
Consumer Protection Act 1986. The day is an opportunity to protect basic rights of consumers.
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) is now being implemented in all the States/UTs and covers about 80 crore persons for receiving highly subsidised food grains.
Sustained efforts have resulted in significant reforms in TPDS making it more transparent and leak proof with better targeting of food subsidy.
As a result thereof, 100% of ration cards have been digitised while 71.13% have been Aadhaar seeded.
Online allocation of food grains has started in 29 States/UTs,
Supply chain has been computerised in 19 States/UTs and 1,76,834 Fair Price Shops (FPS) have been automated by installing ‘Point of Sale’ devices.
6 States have now automated all their FPSs.
Consumer Protection Bill 2015- Replaces the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
- Bill enforces consumer rights and provides a mechanism for complaint redressal regarding defects in goods and services.
- Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions will be set up at national, state and district levels for adjudicating consumer complaints.
- Bill has also established a Consumer Protection Authority to investigate consumer complaints, issue notices for goods and services and pass orders for recall of goods and against misleading ads.
- If a consumer suffers product defects, he must file a claim of product liability against the manufacturer.
- Bill classifies 6 contract terms as unfair including payment of excessive security deposits, disproportionate penalty for a breach and unilateral termination without cause.
