World Consumer Rights Day - 15th March

[Deepak Kiran]

The consumer movement marks 15th March with World Consumer Rights Day every year, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs.

Celebrating the day is a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.

World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by President John F Kennedy, who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first world leader to do so.

The consumer movement first marked that date in 1983 and now uses the day every year to mobilise action on important issues and campaigns.





On this day, advocates raise their voices to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, no matter the product or service in question or the social strata where the consumers belong. All the consumers also must have the power and knowledge to protest against market abuses and social injustices that try to undermine those rights in any way.

 

[Deepak Kiran]

The day is celebrated globally to highlight the importance of consumer protection and rights. It is aimed at empowering consumers with the knowledge and means to spot market abuses, report them and/or prevent malpractices altogether.


When was the first World Consumer Rights Day?


Former United States President John F. Kennedy presented the four basic rights of consumers in a landmark address to Congress on March 15, 1962. These rights-to choose freely, to be heard or have a say, to be informed and to seek redressal-laid the foundation for the country’s Consumer Bill of Rights.

The World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by the consumer movement and came to be celebrated on March 15 every year starting 1983.


What is the theme for World Consumer Rights Day this year?


‘Fair Digital Finance’ is the theme decided by Consumers International for World Consumer Rights Day 2022. The day will be marked by several events aimed at mobilising stakeholders to achieve transparency and fairness in digital financial services.


More than 3.6 billion consumers are projected to avail digital banking services by 2024.

Consumer Rights in India


The Parliament of India, in 1986, enacted the Consumer Protection Act to protect the interest of consumers. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, set up under the act, handles consumer grievances.

 

[Deepak Kiran]

There are some rights of consumers:

1. Right to Safety; To be protected against the marketing of goods and services, which are hazardous to life and property. The purchased goods and services availed of should not only meet their immediate needs but also fulfil long term interests.
2. Right to be Informed; Right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.
3. Right to Choose: To be assured, wherever possible of access to a variety of goods and services at a competitive price. In the case of monopolies, it means the right to be assured of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price.
4. Right to be Heard: Meaning that consumers’ interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums. It also includes the right to be represented in various forums formed to consider the consumer’s welfare.
5. Right to Seek redressal: To seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers. It also includes the right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances of the consumer.
6. Right to Consumer Education: To acquire the knowledge and skill to be an informed consumer throughout life. Ignorance of consumers, particularly of rural consumers, is the main cause behind their exploitation.
7. The Right to satisfaction of basic needs; To have access to basic, essential goods and services: adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water and sanitation.
8. The right to a healthy environment; To live and work in an environment that is non-threatening to the well-being of present and future generations.

Various Consumer Organisations (mentioned below) are functional in India that provide help against violation of Consumer Rights:

• Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat
• Consumer Guidance Society of India
• All India Consumer Protection Organization
• The Consumers Eye India
• United India Consumer’s Association
• Grahak Shakti Bengaluru – Karnataka
• Consumer Awareness, Protection, and Education Council
• The Consortium of South India Consumer Organisations