CUTS to launch ‘Grassroots Reachout & Networking in Rajasthan through Consumer Action (GRANIRCA) project on 17th March 2010

Lack of consumers’ access to adequate information, improper understanding about the redressal mechanism/procedure as well as other socio-economic vulnerabilities are the reasons that they are struggling to get justice. To address the problem, CUTS is partnering with the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India under the Consumer Welfare Fund (CWF) to implement the project entitled, ‘Grassroots Reachout & Networking in Rajasthan through Consumer Action’ (GRANIRCA) in 12 districts of Rajasthan.

To launch the project, Mr Babu Lal Nagar, Minister of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Govt of Rajasthan has kindly consented to be the chief guest and Mr Rajiv Agarwal, Secretary to the Govt of India, Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs will be the special guest on the occasion. Other then these, Mr M L Mehta, former Chief Secretary, Govt of Rajasthan and now President CUTS-International; Justice Sunil Kumar Garg, President, State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission; Justice V. S. Dave, former President, State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission; presidents and members of different district consumer forums; officials from State Food and Consumer Affairs department; representatives of civil society organisations; consumer organisation; reps of other link departments; corporate services; media reps etc will also take part in the Project Launch Meeting at Hotel Country Inn & Suits, Khasa Kothi, Jaipur on March 17, 2010 at 11 AM.

The objective of the project is to generate a more capable consumer by way of equipping him with knowledge and skills and build up zealous grassroots’ activists through intensive training, capacity building and orientation programmes on consumer protection issues to create an enabling environment at the grassroots.

The main activities to be implemented under the project will be research activities on consumer issues, public interfaces/hearings and outreach meetings, district level training workshops at each of the 12 district, state feedback roundtables to share and consolidate the learning’s, media sensitisation workshops at districts and the state level, advocacy with the concerned agencies, complaints handling, information and advisory services (CHIAS) through dedicated cells, printing of reports, briefing papers and newsletters and creation of a project website and a collective communication device for wider outreach.

The project is for a period of three years, i.e. January 2010 to December 2012 for 12 districts namely Tonk, Chittorgarh, Kota, Bundi, Alwar, Banswara, Jodhpur, Jalore, Churu, Sikar, Dholpur and Dausa.