Consumer Awareness

Who is a consumer
Any Individual who purchases products and services for his personal use and not for
manufacturing or resale is called a consumer. A consumer is a one who is the decision maker
whether to buy an item at the store, or someone who is influenced by advertisement and
marketing..

Consumer Exploitation
Consumer exploitation is a situation in which a consumer is cheated or giver false
information by the producer, large companies with huge wealth, etc. At times they pass false
information through the media to attract consumers. Sometimes due to this consumers find
themselves in weak positions.

Forms Of Consumer Exploitation

1. High Prices: Traders charge prices higher than the market prices due to the customer
urgency.
2. Sub-Standard Quality: Some traders sell sub standard quality product to the
consumer. Nowadays the markets are full of duplicate products.
3. Adulterated Products: In edible food items such as oil, ghee, or spices, adulteration is
done in order to earn high profits.
4. Improper Information: Companies spend a considerable number of advertisements
in order to attract the consumers and feed information that they want the consumers
to know but not the information the consumer should know about the product.

Consumer Rights
Consumer rights are a set of fundamental entitlements designed to protect
consumers from unfair practices, ensure their safety and satisfaction, and provide
avenues for recourse in case of disputes. The Consumer Rights are:

1. Right to Safety: Consumers have the right to purchase products and services that
are safe for their intended use. This includes protection against hazardous goods,
proper labelling, and adequate instructions for use.

2. Right to Information: Consumers have the right to receive accurate and truthful
information about products and services before making a purchase. This includes
clear and transparent pricing, product specifications, ingredients, warranties, and
any potential risks or side effects.

3. Right to Choose: Consumers have the right to choose from a range of products
and services at competitive prices. They should not be subjected to monopolistic
practices or unfair restrictions that limit their options.
 4. Right to seek redressal: Consumers have the right to seek compensation or
redress if a product or service fails to meet the promised quality or results in
harm. This includes the right to refunds, repairs, replacements, or appropriate
compensation for any losses incurred.

5. Right to Consumer Education: Consumers have the right to be educated and

informed about their rights and responsibilities. This includes access to consumer
education programs, information resources, and awareness campaigns to
enhance their understanding of consumer issues.

6. Right to be Heard: Consumers have the right to be heard and participate in

decisions that affect them. This includes the right to form consumer
organizations, express opinions, and provide feedback on products and services.

Consumer Responsibilities
Consumer responsibilities refer to the ethical obligations and actions that
individuals should undertake when engaging in commercial transactions or
purchasing goods and services. The Following are the consumer responsibilities:

1. Responsibility to be aware – A consumer has to be mindful of the safety and

quality of products and services before purchasing.
2. Responsibility to think independently– Consumer should be well concerned
about what they want and need and therefore make independent choices.
3. Responsibility to speak out- Buyer should be fearless to speak out their
grievances and tell traders what they exactly want
4. Responsibility to complain- It is the consumer’s responsibility to express and
file a complaint about their dissatisfaction with goods or services in a sincere
and fair manner.
5. Responsibility to be an Ethical Consumer- They should be fair and not
engage themselves with any deceptive practice.
Consumer Awareness
Consumer awareness refers to the understanding and knowledge that individuals have
regarding their rights, responsibilities, and available information related to products,
services, and transactions in the marketplace. It encompasses being informed about product
quality, safety standards, pricing, warranties, and the overall rights and protections afforded
to consumers.
The Importance of consumer awareness cannot be overstated. The following are the key
points why consumer awareness is crucial.
1. Protection of consumer rights: This includes the right to safety, information, choice,
redress, and a healthy environment. By being aware of these rights, consumers can
protect themselves from unfair practices, misleading information, and potential
harm.

2. Informed Decision Making: When consumers have access to accurate information

about products, services, and their alternatives, they can evaluate their options,
compare prices, assess quality, and make decisions that align with their needs and
preferences.

3. Avoidance of Fraud and Scams: By being aware of common tactics used by

scammers, consumers can protect themselves from financial loss and potential harm.
They can recognize warning signs, such as unrealistic promises, hidden fees, or
untrustworthy sellers.

Jago Grahak Jago (A consumer Awareness Campaign)

Jago Grahak jago (Wake Up Customer!) is one of the most important and successful
consumer awareness campaign in recent times which was launched by the
department of food under the government of India.
As a part of this initiative, the government has used channels to create awareness of
rights among the customers through printings, media advertisements, poster, audio
campaigns, etc. The result of that many illegal things going on were stopped and
good quality product was delivered to the consumers.
Under this scheme there was an establishment of consumer forums and consumer
courts to handle cases filed by consumers. By providing helpline numbers, Jago
Grahak Jago achieved mass popularity and reached out quickly to the consumers.
National Consumer Helpline: This was developed under the JGJ scheme as a project
of the union ministry of consumer affairs. A consumer can call to seek information,
advice, or guidance for his/her queries.

Steps taken by the government to ensure consumer awareness:

The government is responsible for creating marketplace that are fair, efficient, and
competitive for traders, producers and consumers. The government is also
responsible for the safety of food products. This included food labelling and
advertisements. The Indian Government played a vital role for consumer protection
by enacting various rules and regulations such as:

1. Consumer Protection Act, 1986

2. Consumer Courts
3. Standard Marks (ISI, Agmark, etc)

Consumer Protection Act, 1986

The consumer protection act of 1986 (COPRA) was an act of the parliament of India
enacted in 1986 to protect the interests of consumers in India. In simple words, it is a
legislation enacted by the Government of India to protect the interests and rights of
consumers in the country. The primary objective of this act is to provide a legal
framework for consumer protection, ensure fair trade practices, and establish
mechanisms for redressal of consumer grievances.
This act is regarded as the ‘Magna Carta’ in the field of consumer protection for
checking unfair practices, ‘Defects in goods’ and ‘deficiencies in services’ as far as
India is concerned. It has significantly impacted how businesses approach consumers
and has empowered consumers to a greater extent.

Consumer Courts
Consumer court is a special purpose court in India that deals with cases regarding
consumer disputes, conflicts, and grievances. There are judicial hearings setup by the
government to protect the consumer rights.
The consumer courts in India are present on 3 levels:
1. National Consumer Dispute redressal commission:
2. State consumer Dispute redressal commission:
3. District consumer Dispute redressal Forum:

World Consumer Day

World consumer day is celebrated every year on March 15 to raise awareness
about the rights of the consumers. Celebrating this day is a chance to demand
that consumer rights are respected and protected, and to protest against all the
market abuses and social injustices that a consumer faces.

Bibliography
 Wikipedia.org
 ConsumerHelpline.gov.in
 Byjus.com
 TimesOfIndia.IndiaTimes.com
 Vikaspedia.in
 ConsumerAffairs.nic.in