Tumong
Department of Economics, Immanuel College, Dimapur
Many times the consumer becomes an easy prey for the shopkeepers. And mostly it is due to the lack of information with regard to the prices, products expiration and manipulation through weight and measures which happens to be the most common tragedy in our state. However, there are certain rights of the consumer against such acts of unfair practices. Consumer Rights today are being recognized as a Constitutional Right by nearly 47 countries .The Ministry of consumer Affairs, food and public distribution is that ministry of the government under which a consumer can address complaints. On the infringement of any consumer rights, the consumer thus can complain in a consumer court accordingly.
In order to safeguard the consumer, the government of India has enacted the Consumer Protection Act in 1986 and the consumer protection Amendment Act in 2002. Such rights and duties of a consumer are:
(1) Right to be informed about the quality, quantity, prices etc about the products.
(2) Right to free choice of goods and services.
(3) Right to be protected from all type of hazardous goods and services especially medicine, electronic tools etc.
(4) Right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or exploitations of consumer and right to consumer education.
(5) Right to approach complaint against any difficult of the products. In this way the consumer are protected against wrong information.
Therefore, consumer must be ready to approach above any difficulties to address and claim their rights. The rights are bestowed upon every individual and it all comes down to every responsible consumer to raise the issue to the concern department and claim their rights when it is violated.
Some of the advantages and disadvantages of consumer rights are:
(1) Consumer Rights are very helpful as it creates awareness and safeguard the consumer.
(2) Consumer Rights make markets work for both business and consumer.
(3) Consumer Rights protect consumers from hazardous and unfair trade practices.
(4) While the consumer claim his right too much, some business feel that the act out too much strain on them.
(5) It creates an extra financial and administrative burden on business.
