Consumer Rights

What are the various ways by which people may be exploited in the market?

Think of one example from your experience where you thought that there was some 'cheating' in the market. Discuss in the classroom.

What do you think should be the role of government to protect consumers?

What could have been the steps taken by consumer groups?

There may be rules and regulations but they are often not followed. Why? Discuss.

For the following (you can add to the list) products/services discuss what safety rules should be observed by the producer?

Find out any case of accident or negligence from people around you, where you think that the responsibility lay with the producer. Discuss.

When we buy commodities we find that the price charged is sometimes higher or lower than the Maximum Retail Price printed on the pack. Discuss the possible reasons. Should consumer groups do something about this?

Pick up a few packaged goods that you want to buy and examine the information given. In what ways are they useful? Is there some information that you think should be given on those packaged goods but is not? Discuss.

People make complaints about the lack of civic amenities such as bad roads or poor water and health facilities but no one listens. Now the RTI Act gives you the power to question. Do you agree? Discuss.

The following are some of the catchy advertisements of products that we purchase from the market. Which of the following offers would really benefit consumers? Discuss.

• 15 gm more in every 500 gm pack.
• Subscribe for a newspaper with a gift at the end of a year.
• Scratch and win gifts worth Rs 10 lakhs.
• A milk chocolate inside a 500 gram glucose box.
• Win a gold coin inside a pack.
• Buy shoes worth Rs 2000 and get one pair of shoes worth Rs 500 free.

Arrange the following in the correct order.

Find out the nearest Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for your area.

What is the difference between consumer protection council and Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission?

The Consumer Protection Act 1986 ensures the following as rights which every consumer in India should possess: (i) Right to choice, (ii) Right to information, (iii) Right to redressal, (iv) Right to representation, (v) Right to safety, (vi) Right to consumer education. Categorise the following cases under different heads and mark against each in brackets.

If the standardisation ensures the quality of a commodity, why are many goods available in the market without ISI or Agmark certification?

Find out the details of who provides Hallmark and ISO certification.

Why are rules and regulations required in the marketplace? Illustrate with a few examples.

What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India? Trace its evolution.

Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving two examples.