Lok Sabha Question No. 1547 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-25
Subject: Consumer Welfare Fund
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1547

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2017

## CONSUMER WELFARE FUND

## 1547.  SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY:

## Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has set up Consumer Welfare Fund for providing financial assistance to promote and protect the welfare of the consumers, create consumer awareness and strengthen consumer movement in the country, particularly in rural areas;
- (b) whether the Government also plans to set up Consumer Welfare Funds at State level to increase the coverage and horizon of disseminating relevant information to the consumers; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated/utilised on the said purpose?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) : Yes, Madam. The Central Government established the Consumer Welfare Fund under Rule 3 of the Consumer Welfare Fund Rules, 1992 framed under the Central Excise and Salt Act 1944, into which credits of amount of duty and income from investment along with other monies specified in sub section (2) of section 12C of the Act, is to be accredited. The overall objective of the Consumer Welfare Fund is to provide financial assistance to promote and protect the welfare of the consumers and strengthen  the  consumer  movement  in  the  country.  The  Fund  has  been  set  up  by  the  Department  of Revenue  and,  is  being  operated  by  the  Ministry  of  Consumer  Affairs,  Food  &  Public  Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs. The Fund is utilized in accordance with Rules & Guidelines framed.

(b) & (c) : In the year 2003, all the States/UTs were impressed upon to set up a Consumer Welfare Fund  at  the  State  level,  so  that  voluntary  efforts  for  promoting  the  consumer  movement  could  be strengthened at grass root level through financial support.  Further, in 2010, proposals were sought from all the State/UTs to establish a corpus of Rs.10.00 crores, where it was decided that Central Government will contribute 75% of that amount as central share from the central Consumer Welfare Fund and rest 25% will be contributed by the States/UTs. With respect to special category States/UTs the central share was decided as 90%. Proposals have been received from 13 State Governments who have deposited their  share  in  non-lapsable  interest  bearing  account.  Accordingly,  the  grant  as  center  share  for  the purpose have been released to 13 States to increase the coverage and horizon of disseminating relevant information to the consumers. The details of fund released are as follows:

(Rs. in crore)

| S.No.   | Name of States   | Amount Released   |
|---------|------------------|-------------------|
| 1.      | Gujarat          | 7.50              |
| 2.      | Andhra Pradesh   | 4.79*             |
| 3.      | Orissa           | 7.50              |
| 4.      | West Bengal      | 7.50              |
| 5.      | Bihar            | 7.50              |
| 6.      | Nagaland         | 8.40              |
| 7.      | Karnataka        | 7.50              |
| 8.      | Tamil Nadu       | 7.50              |
| 9.      | Madhya Pradesh   | 7.50              |
| 10.     | Kerala           | 7.50              |
| 11.     | Haryana          | 7. 50             |
| 12.     | Jharkhand        | 4.00              |
| 13.     | Telangana        | 2.71*             |
|         | Total            | 87.40             |

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