Every year the 15th of March is observed as the ‘World Consumer Rights Day’(WCRD) globally and Nagaland is also observing with rest of the world. The significance of this day is that on March 15, 1962 President John F. Kennedy spoke before the US Congress and addressed Consumer Rights and he formally declared four consumer rights and addressed the issues and consumer rights. He was marked as the first world leader who spoke of consumer rights. Later on the International Organisations of Consumers Union(IOCU) now called Consumers International(CI) added four more rights to the list. These rights are: 1. Right to safety 2. Right to be informed 3. Right to choose 4. Right to be heard 5. Right to redress 6. Right to consumer education 7. Right to a healthy environment 8. Right to basic needs. The Government of India has included these rights in its 20 point programme. These have also been incorporated in the United Nations Charter of Human Right. In 1963, the first World Consumer Rights Day was observed.
The significance of this day is to highlight the rights of all consumers and protect them from exploitation, discrimination, and other forms of unfair practices. It also aims to promote consumer awareness about important issues and campaign and encourage them to take action to protect their rights. People are to be more active in protecting their rights and ensuring that they are safe from malpractice. More importantly, it is a time for promoting the basic rights of all consumers, for demanding that those rights are respected and protected and for protesting the market abuses and social injustices which undermine them. This day is an occasion when consumer movement raises global awareness of consumer rights, consumer protection and empowerment.
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is considered to be a historic milestone in the consumer movement in the country. However, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 have solely replaced the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Every year the observance of this day provides an opportunity for highlighting the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make consumers more aware of their rights and responsibilities. The awareness of consumer rights and duties is more important in rural areas and the responsibility of this rests with all of us, and more particularly with the government agencies. The state government has to play a vital role for promoting welfare of consumers and protection of their rights. The practices in our society such as fund-raise by way of selling lottery tickets/raffle draw/moudi/cooked packed food/buffet tickets/calendar, unfair means of practices in weightments, selling expiry goods, removal of original price tag like motor parts and students text/exercises books, etc, amount to consumer rights exploitation.
Kezhokhoto Savi President NVCO
