NAME :

CLASS : 10

SECTION :

ADMN. NO :

ACADEMIC YEAR : 2022-23

SUBJECT : SOCIAL SCIENCE

 PROJECT WORK ON

CONSUMER
RIGHTS
Introduction:

We go to market and buy a variety of goods and avail services required in or day-to-day life. In exchange of these goods and
services, we pay money and derive satisfaction by consuming them. But sometimes, we feel dissatisfied due to poor quality, high
prices, false promises made in advertisements, hidden information and costs, etc. and on. This is done because we are not aware of
our rights as a consumer.

Objective:

The objective of the project is to reduce consumer exploitation by making them aware about their rights as a consumer.

Who is a Consumer?

Under the Consumer Protection Act, a consumer is defined as:

(i) Any person who buys any goods for a consideration, which has been paid or promised, or partly and partly promised, or
under any scheme of deferred payment. It includes any user of such goods, when such use is made with the approval of the
buyer, but does not include a person who obtains goods for resale or any other commercial purpose.

(ii) Any person who hires or avails of any service, for a consideration which has been paid or promised, or partly paid and partly
promised, or under any system of deferred payment. It includes any beneficiary of services when such services are availed of
with the approval of the person concerned, but does not include a person who avails of such services for any commercial
purpose.

Consumer Protection and Common Problems faced by a Consumer in Market Place

Consumer protection refers to the measures adopted to safeguard the interest and rights of consumers and to help them in
getting their grievances redressed. Consumer protection means protecting the consumers from unscrupulous, exploitative and
unfair trade practices of a seller or a producer for maximising their profits.
 The importance of consumer protection from consumer’s point of view can be understood from the following points:

• Consumer’s Ignorance: In the light of widespread ignorance of consumers about their rights and reliefs available to
them, it becomes necessary to make them aware about their rights and redressal available.
• Unorganised Consumers: Generally, in India, though we have NGOs and Consumer organisations, consumers are
not organised. Thus, to protect and promote their interest, adequate consumer protection is required.
• Widespread Exploitation of the Consumers: Unaware, ignorant consumers might be exploited by marketer and thus,
consumer protection provides safeguard to the consumers from such exploitation.

Consumers face problems in market place due to some common malpractices by shopkeepers which are given below:

▪ Sale of adulterated goods i.e., selling goods by adding something inferior to the product being sold
▪ Sale of spurious goods i.e., selling something of little value instead of the real product
▪ Sale of sub-standard goods i.e., sale of goods which do not confirm to prescribed quality standards
▪ Misleading advertisements i.e., false claims made in advertisements by marketer
▪ Overcharging of price i.e., selling product at price which is higher than MRP
▪ Fake scarcity to raise the price and black marketing by hoarding of products
▪ Sale of defective goods

Consumer Movement in India:

During 1960s, in India, the consumer movement were originated as social force to protect the interest of consumers against the
malpractices adopted by marketer.
Some of the main reasons for Consumer Movement were:

• Lack of legal system to protect the consumers from exploitation in the marketplace
• Rampant food shortages
• Black marketing
 • Hoarding
• Adulteration of food and edible oil

▪ Till the 1970s, objectives, set at the time of origin, were not achieved as consumer organisations largely engaged in
writing articles and holding exhibitions. Then, they formed consumer groups to look into the malpractices in ration shops
and overcrowding in the road passenger transport.

▪ Till the 1970s, consumer organisations were largely engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed
consumer groups to look into the malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in the road passenger transport. More
recently, India witnessed an upsurge in the number of consumer groups.

Consumer Protection Act, 1986

Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was passed in year 1986 and was enforced from July 1st 1987 with the motive to protect the
interest of consumers from being exploited by shopkeepers or markets to maximize profits which ultimately harm the well-being
of the consumer and society. This Act teaches the consumers to make right choices by educating them about their rights and
responsibilities of being a consumer and make them aware that how to seek redressal if they face any kind of exploitation.

This Consumer Protections Act, 1986 applies to all goods, services and unfair trade practices unless specifically exempted by
the Central Government covers all sectors-private, public or co-operative provides for establishment of consumer protection
councils at the central, state and district levels, i.e., three tier machinery system

Three-tier System

District Forum
• A complaint can be made to the appropriate District Forum when the value of goods or services in question along with the
compensation claimed does not exceed ` 20 lakh.
• The appeal against the orders of the District Forum can also be filed before the State Commission.
State Commission
• A complaint can be made to the appropriate State Commission when the value of goods or services in question along with the
 compensation claimed exceeds ` 20 lakh but does not exceed ` 1 crore.
• The appeal against the orders of the State Commission can also be filed before the National Commission.

National Commission
• A complaint can be made to the appropriate National Commission when the value of goods or services in question along with
the compensation claimed exceeds ` 1 crore.
• An order passed by the National Commission in a matter of its original jurisdiction is appealable before the Supreme Court.

Consumer Rights

A consumer is an important participant in the market. In case of consumer exploitation, the rights of the consumer must be
protected. There are six consumer rights as mentioned in the regulatory Consumer Protection Act of 1986.

Right to Safety
• Consumer has a right to be protected against marketing of those goods and services which are hazardous to life, health and
property.
• This states that consumer has a right to get protection against the risks caused due to the use of substandard products or
products that do not confirm to the safety norms.
Right to Choose
• This right gives the freedom to the consumer to choose goods or avail services from a variety of products at competitive
prices.
• As per COPRA, to enable the consumer to make the right choice, the marketers should offer a wide variety of product in terms
of quality, price, size etc.

Right to be Heard
• If a consumer feel dissatisfied with a product or a service, he/she has a right to file a complaint and to be heard in consumer

court.
• It is because of this reason; many firms have set up their own consumer service and grievance cells.
 Right to Seek Redressal
• The consumer has a right to get relief in case the product or service falls short of his expectations.
• The Consumer Protection Act provides relief to customers such as replacement of product, removal of defect in the product,
compensation for any loss or injury suffered by the consumer.

Right to be Informed
• The consumer has a right to have complete information about the product he intends to buy such as ingredients, date of
manufacturing, price, quantity, etc.
• It is because of this reason that the legal framework in India requires the manufacturers to provide such information on the
package and label of the product.

Right to Consumer Education

• A consumer has a right to acquire knowledge on matters regarding consumer protection and their rights and to be a well-
informed consumer.
• A consumer must be aware about the rights, responsibilities and reliefs made him/her available in case of a product or service
falling short of his expectations.

Consumer Awareness
The most significant and effective consumer awareness programme, Jago Grahak Jago, has successfully addressed consumer complaints
while protecting customers from unethical marketing activities. The Department of Consumer Affairs, a division of the Ministry of Consumer
and Public Distributions, launched the Jago Grahak Jago campaign in 2005.

The slogan “Jago Grahak Jago,” which translates to “wake up consumers,” is being used in practically every home. To raise consumer
awareness, the Indian government employed a variety of media. The government uses the channels listed below to achieve the goals of
the “Jago Grahak Jago” awareness programme.
 • Advertisements
• Video campaigns
• Newspapers
• Posters
Conclusion
Finally, it can be said that consumer awareness refers to being aware of one’s knowledge of various consumer production laws,
improved techniques, and consumer rights, such as the right to protection of one’s health and safety from goods and services that
consumers purchase and the right to information about the cost, quality, quantity, potency, and standard of goods.