Lok Sabha Question No. 54 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Increasing Consumer Awareness
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: K. Shanmuga Sundaram

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 54

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## INCREASING CONSUMER AWARENESS

## 54. SHRI SHANMUGA SUNDARAM K.:

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

- (a) the steps taken to increase consumer awareness;
- (b) the steps taken to simplify the processes of Consumer Courts; and
- (c) the measures enforced to prevent retailers from overcharging above MRP?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री अश्विनी क ु मार चौबे)

## CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)       :    Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  has  generated  consumer  awareness  under  'Jago  Grahak  Jago' Campaign  among  the  consumers  of  the  country  through  video  spots  and  other  material  on  various provisions  of  Consumer  Protection  Act  2019,  MRP,  Hallmarking,  weights  and  measures,  consumer grievance redressal mechanism  and related issues through departmental website, State/UT Governments, TV, Radio, Common Service Centres. Regular messages are posted on social media to harness its potential to  create  consumer  awareness.  State/UT  governments  have  also  been  involved  to  spread  consumer awareness in tribal and remote areas.

The  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  has  recently  launched  "Jagriti",  a  mascot  for  empowering consumers  and  generating  awareness  of  their  rights.  "Jagriti"  is  projected  as  an  empowered  young consumer.

- (b)  : The  Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019  provides  for,  inter-alia,  simplification  of  the  adjudication process in the Consumer Commissions; filing of a complaint by a consumer in the Consumer Commission having  jurisdiction  with  respect   to  his  place  of  work/residence  irrespective  of  place  of  transaction  and place of business or residence of the opposite parties, e-filing of cases in Consumer Commissions through e-daakhil portal, video conferencing for hearing, deemed admissibility of complaints if admissibility is not decided within 21 days of filing; court monitored mediation to facilitate early disposal of cases; provision of product liability.

The Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules, 2020 notified under the  ibid  Act  provides  that  no  fees  is  required  for  registering  cases  in  the  District  Consumer  Disputes Redressal Commissions involving value of goods or services paid as consideration upto 5 lakhs.

The  e-Daakhil  portal  has  been  launched  to  provide  facility  to  all  the  deprived  and  aggrieved consumers to register online consumer complaints in different Consumer Commissions from anywhere in India. It allows consumers to pay the complaints fees online, upload case documents and track the process. The purpose is to provide timely and effective administration and settlement of consumer disputes.

The  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  along  with  National  Legal  Service  Authority  participated  in  the National Lok Adalat held on 12 th   November, 2022. Pending consumer cases which have the element of settlement were identified and with consent of parties were referred for settlement through National Lok Adalat held on 12 th November, 2022. Out of 19,497 cases which were listed for settlement, 5930 cases were settled on a single day.

(c)  The  Legal  Metrology  (Packaged  Commodities)  Rules  2011,  provides  that  no  retail  dealer  or  other person shall make any sale of any commodity in packed form at a price exceeding the retails sale price thereof.  Enforcement  of  these  provisions  is  done  by  the  Legal  Metrology  Department  of  the  State governments which impose penalties in case of violations.

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