Deccan Herald, Mysore, April 26, 2012
Consumer has to protect himself and producers are equally responsible in protecting interests of consumers, said commissioner of MUDA C G Betsurmath.
He was speaking after inaugurating a two day ‘knowledge enhancement workshop’ on ‘Indian consumer in the new age: A forward looking agenda to address the concerns of the common people’ jointly organised by Consumer Unity and Trust Society (Cuts) and CREAT, here on Thursday. He opined awareness is a personal responsibility of consumers and social responsibility of producers.
“If a consumer suffers, society and nation suffers in turn. Thus role of public seems to be important in creating awareness,” he said.
Citing example of choices of educational institutions and courses available for a student in present days, he said, this century has become a century of choices. As the present century is known for massive changes in life style with information and technology moving forward at an unimaginable rate, world has become a shrinking global village. With the competition increasing, choices in all walks of life have increased. Choices have turned out to be a confusion for a consumer.
Choices have ability to change life and thus we have to be careful. “We have to excel or exit in this century,” he added.
Pointing out instances of adulteration of food products, he said, adulteration always seem attractive to make quick money.
The craze of branded products in consumers dupes them. He stressed the importance of consumer movement in creating awareness.
Consumer rights and laws should be known to public.
“No one is untouched by science and technology. But most of the time, they are misused. cyber crimes, thefts and other issues are a matter to be given a thought,” Betsurmath added.
Project coordinator of Cuts Amarjeet Singh said that Cuts is a Jaipur based international NGO that came into existence in 1983.
“It came up as a wall newspaper ‘Gram Gadar,’ to create awareness among villagers then. Now the organisation deals with issues of international trade, consumer problems and others.
“Main motto of Cuts is to protect interests of consumers,” he said.
Principal of JSS Law College Suresh, M P Nagendra Murthy, Y G Muralidharan of CREAT, Jayashree Soni of Cuts and others were present.
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