Area of study: Market operation Consumer movement Consumer rights Well informed consumers Present scenario of consumer movement

We participate in market both as producers and consumers. Rules and regulations that protect workers in organised and unorganised sectors. Ex. Swapna was forced to her land to pay back the loan. Unorganised workers have to compromise. We have studied the rules & regulations to protect them Same way we need rules to protect consumers.

Consumers often find himself in weak position . Seller tries to shift all the responsibility on the buyers.(consumers movement changed situation) Exploitation of consumers: less weight, extra charges,adultration,defective goods. Big companies manipulate the market in their ways. Falls informations are passed by them to attract consumers. Ex. A company claiming that powder milk is better than mothers milk. It took many years to change the companys claim. Ex . Cigarette causing cancer. So there is need to protect consumers.

It arose due to unfair practices by sellers. Consumer is responsible for the product. So consumer will stop purchasing from that shop. It took many years for the organisations in India & the world to aware the consumers. It has shifted quality and the responsibility of goods and services to the sellers. In india,black marketing,adultration of food gave birth to consumer movement in an organised form in the 1960s.They started with writing articles, holding exhibitions. Because of all these gov. framed the laws as consumer protection act 1986,known as COPRA. In 1985 united nations adopted the UN guidelines for consumers protection.

RejiMathew had to go for tonsillectomy. Anesthesia over dose was given and as result Reji showed symptoms of some brain abnormalities. A complaint was filed in state consumer disputes redressal commission for 5,00,000 The commission dismissed it due to improper evidence. Case was appealed in National consumer disputes redressal commission. Hospital was held responsible.

Rejis suffering shows how a hospital, due to negligence by the doctors and staff in giving anaesthesia,crippled a student for life. This way as a consumers we need to be protected. Producers need to follow safety rules and regulations. Sometimes we find bad quality products because of weak rules and consumers movement not strong enough.

Product details need to be informed. Ingredients used,MRP,expiry date and address. Side effects and risk associated in case of medicines. This way consumers can complain and ask for compensation or replacement. In Oct 2005,The GOI enacted a law popularly known as RTI act. Case of Amritha: an engineering graduate submitted certificates and attended interview. She did not receive any call. She filed a complaint using RTI for delay in result so that she could plan her future. Case of Abirami:She joined a professional course in a coaching inst.She had paid Rs.61,020 for entire course.After one year she wanted to leave due to bad quality but inst denied to pay back the fee.She filed a case in district consumer court.Court directed to inst. To pay Rs.28,000.The inst appealed in State consumer court. The court directed to pay Rs,25,000 for appeal and Rs. 7000 for litigation cost.

ISI mark

ISI mark of india Expansion Indian Standards Institute Certifying agency Bureau of Indian Standards Effective region India Effective since 1955 Product category Industrial products Legal status Mandatory for some products, advisory for others ISI mark is a certification mark for industrial products in India. The mark certifies that a product conforms to a set of standards laid by the Bureau of Indian Standards (

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the national standards organization of India.[1][2] The ISI mark is by far the most recognized certification mark in the Indian subcontinent. The name ISI is an abbreviation of Indian Standards Institute, the former name of the Bureau of Indian Standards. The ISI mark is mandatory for certain products to be sold in India, like most of the electrical appliances[3] viz; switches, electric motors, wiring cables, heaters, kitchen appliances etc., and other products like portland cement, LPG valves, LPG cylinders, automotive tyres[4] etc. But in the case of most other products it serves only a consumer advisory status.[5] Abuses It is very common in India to find products with fake ISI marks, that is, affixing ISI marks on the product without actually getting certified.[6] Fake ISI marks usually do not carry the mandatory 7-digit license number required by BIS.[7] This is a punishable offense by the law, but the practice is common.[8]

We have seen in previous cases that the consumers have right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices. Procedure to get compensation: Case study:Mr.Prakash He had sent money order for her daughter' marriage. Money was not received even after marriage. He filed a case in district consumer court. He got the decision from the court. You can claim up to Rs.20 Lakh in district level.20Lakh to 1crore in state level. More than 1 crore in national level.

While purchasing various goods and services, we should be conscious about the product. Other thing is to acquiring the knowledge. Enactment of COPRA has led the setting up of separate departments of consumer affairs in central and state government.

India has been observing 24 Dec as national consumers day. On this day Indian parliament enacted the consumer protection act 1986. We have exclusive courts for consumer redressal. There are more than 700 consumer groups in India. 20-25 are well organised and recognised for their work. However, Consumer faces difficulty due to lack of evidence(Cash memos not are not issued).After 20 years of the enactment of COPRA consumer awareness is spreading but slowly. Participation of consumers is essential for awareness.