Lok Sabha Question No. 2350 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-21
Subject: Setting up of Price Monitoring Centres
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Jaskaur Meena, Anil Firojiya, V. Kalanidhi, P. Ravindhranath, Kripanath Mallah

## ORIGINAL IN HINDI

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Government of India Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2350 (OIH) TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2022

## SETTING UP OF PRICE MONITORING CENTRES

2350.  SHRIMATI JASKAUR MEENA: SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA: DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY: (OIH) SHRI P. RAVINDHRANATH: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

## 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 is considering to set up price monitoring centres across the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the amount estimated for this and the number of States in the country where those centres are proposed to be set up, State and district-wise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to set up these centres in Rajasthan and Assam also;
- (d) if so, the district-wise details thereof and the time by which these centres are likely to be set up; and
- the steps being taken for redressal of problems related to consumer protection and if so,

## ANSWER

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

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)  &  (b):  The  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  monitors  the  daily  retail  and  wholesale  prices  of  22 commodities through 395 price reporting centres (PMC) set up with Central assistance by State Governments and UT Administrations across the country. The Department has requested all the States/UTs to set up price reporting centre in each District. The price reporting centres are provided financial assistance which include remuneration for Data Entry Operator (DEO) @ Rs.24,000 per month, smart phone @ Rs.10,000 in two year, and sim card/data card @Rs.6,000 per annum. In addition, States/UTs are provided Rs.1.00 Lakh per annum for training/capacity building workshop.

- (c) & (d): The  details  of  price  monitoring  centre  State-wise  and  District-wise  including  Assam  and Rajasthan are at Annexure.
- (e) the details thereof?

(e): The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, provides that a consumer can file complaints against any defect in  goods  purchased  or  deficiencies  in  any  services  availed  including  any  unfair/restrictive  trade  practices adopted,  in  specialized  quasi-judicial  agencies,  commonly  known  as  'Consumer  Commissions',  that  have been established at the District level (District Commission), State level (State Commission) and National level (National  Commission).  These  Consumer  Commissions  have  been  mandated  by  law  to  render  simple, inexpensive and speedy adjudication of consumer complaints.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which has come into force with effect from the 20th July, 2020, provides  for  a  number  of  measures  for  simplification  of  the  adjudication  process  in  the  Consumer Commissions such as filing of complaints electronically (edaakhil.nic.in) and review of their own orders by the  Consumer  Commissions  in  the  case  of  error  apparent  on  the  face  of  records,  provision  of  videoconferencing for hearing, deemed admissibility of complaints if not admitted within the prescribed time limit of 21 days etc. To facilitate early disposal of consumer complaints, court mediation has also been provided in the Act.

In addition to the legislative measures, a National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has been set up, which serves  as  a  pre-litigation  alternate  dispute  resolution  mechanism,  with  toll  free  number  1800-11-  4000  or 14404 or 1915 to handle the consumer grievances.

Further,  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  under  the  aegis  of  'Jago  Grahak  Jago'  campaign  has generated consumer awareness through departmental website, State/UT Governments, Voluntary Consumer Organizations, TV, Radio, Common Service Centres, IRCTC etc.  Regular messages on these issues are also being posted on social media to harness its potential to create consumer awareness.  State/UT Governments have also been involved to spread consumer awareness in rural and remote areas.

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (C)  &  (D)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2350  FOR  21.12.2022  REGARDING  SETTING  UP  OF  PRICE  MONITORING CENTRES

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| State                       |   No. of Centres | Names of the Districts in which Price Reporting Centres are set up                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------|------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Andaman And Nicobar Islands |                3 | Nicobars, North And Middle Andaman, South Andamans,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Andhra Pradesh              |                7 | Krishna, Kurnool, Prakasam, Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Visakhapatanam, Y.S.R. (Kadapa),                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Arunachal Pradesh           |                4 | East Siang, Namsai, Papum Pare, Tawang,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Assam                       |               12 | Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hojai, Jorhat, Kamrup Metro, Tinsukia, Udalguri,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Bihar                       |               38 | Araria, Arwal, Aurangabad, Banka, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Darbhanga, Gaya, Gopalganj, Jamui, Jehanabad, Kaimur (Bhabua), Katihar, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Madhubani, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Nawada, Pashchim Champaran, Patna, Purbi Champaran, Purnia, Rohtas, Saharsa, Samastipur, Saran, Sheikhpura, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Siwan, Supaul, Vaishali, |
| Chandigarh                  |                1 | Chandigarh                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Chattisgarh                 |                9 | Bastar, Bilaspur, Dantewada, Dhamtari, Durg, Korea, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Surguja,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Delhi                       |                1 | Central Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Goa                         |                2 | North Goa, South Goa                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Gujarat                     |               12 | Ahmadabad, Bharuch, Chhotaudepur, Dang, Dohad, Kachchh, Navsari, Rajkot, Sabar Kantha, Surat, Tapi, Valsad,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Haryana                     |                4 | Gurugram, Hisar, Karnal, Panchkula                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Himachal Pradesh            |               12 | Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahul And Spiti, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Jammu And Kashmir           |                4 | Jammu, Kupwara, Poonch, Srinagar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Jharkhand                   |               15 | Bokaro, Deoghar, Dhanbad, East Singhbum, Giridih, Gumla, Lohardaga, Pakur, Palamu, Ramgarh, Ranchi, Sahebganj, Saraikela Kharsawan, Simdega, West Singhbhum,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Karnataka                   |               23 | Bagalkote, Ballari, Belagavi, Bengaluru Urban (2 Centre), Bidar, Chamarajanagara, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Davangere, Dharwad, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Koppal, Mandya, Mysuru, Raichur, Ramanagara, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Vijayapura, Yadgir,                                                                                                                                      |
| Kerala                      |               14 | Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Wayanad,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Madhya Pradesh              |               32 | Agar Malwa, Anuppur, Bhind, Bhopal, Burhanpur, Chhatarpur, Dewas, Dhar, East Nimar, Gwalior, Harda, Hoshangabad, Indore, Jabalpur, Jhabua, Katni, Khargone, Mandla, Morena, Narsinghpur, Neemuch, Raisen, Rajgarh, Rewa, Sagar, Shahdol, Shajapur, Sheopur, Sidhi, Singrauli, Ujjain, Umaria,                                                                                                  |
| Maharashtra                 |               16 | Ahmednagar, Amravati, Aurangabad, Chandrapur, Jalna, Latur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Raigad, Sangli, Satara, Sindhudurg,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |

|                                              |     | Solapur, Yavatmal,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|----------------------------------------------|-----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Manipur                                      |   1 | Imphal East                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Meghalaya                                    |   9 | Eastern West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills (2 Centre), Ri Bhoi, West Garo Hills, West Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Mizoram                                      |   8 | Aizawl, Champhai, Kolasib, Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Mamit, Siaha, Serchhip,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Nagaland                                     |  15 | Chümoukedima District, Dimapur District, Kiphire District, Kohima District, Longleng District, Mokokchung District, Mon District, Niuland District, Peren District, Phek District, Shamator District, Tseminyü District, Tuensang District, Wokha District, Zünheboto District,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Odisha                                       |   9 | Balangir, Baleshwar, Cuttack, Ganjam, Khordha, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Sundargarh,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Puduchery                                    |   1 | Ponidcherry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Punjab                                       |   8 | Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Rajasthan                                    |  31 | Ajmer, Alwar, Banswara, Baran, Barmer, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Churu, Dholpur, Dungarpur, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Karauli, Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Sikar, Sirohi, Tonk, Udaipur,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Sikkim                                       |   4 | Gangtok, Gyalshing, Namchi, Soreng                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Tamil Nadu                                   |   9 | Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Telangana                                    |  10 | Adilabad, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Medchal Malkajgiri, Nizamabad, Sangareddy, Suryapet, Warangal,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| The Dadra And Nagar Haveli And Daman And Diu |   3 | Dadra And Nagar Haveli, Daman, Diu                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Tripura                                      |   4 | Gomati, North Tripura, South Tripura, West Tripura                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Uttarakhand                                  |   4 | Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Udam Singh Nahgar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Uttar Pradesh                                |  63 | Agra, Aligarh, Ambedkar Nagar, Amethi, Amroha, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Baghpat, Bahraich, Banda, Barabanki, Bareilly, Basti, Bhadohi, Bijnor, Budaun, Bulandshahr, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Deoria, Etah, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Ghaziabad, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hamirpur, Hapur, Hardoi, Hathras, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Kaushambi, Kheri, Kushi Nagar, Lalitpur, Lucknow, Mahoba, Meerut, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Rae Bareli, Rampur, Saharanpur, Sambhal, Sant Kabeer Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Shravasti, Siddharth Nagar, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Sultanpur, Unnao, Varanasi, |
| West Bengal                                  |   7 | Birbhum, Darjeeling, Dinajpur Uttar, Kolkata, Maldah, Medinipur West, Purulia,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Total                                        | 395 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

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