World Consumer Day to be observed on March 15

09 March, 2013

World Consumer Day is going to be observed on March 15. At the global level, the awareness about consumer rights stared gaining important when in 1962 the Bill for Consumer Rights was moved in the US Congress. In India, besides the WCD, we observe the National Consumer Day on December 24 every year. In our country, the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) was passed in 1986.

Here are two apt remarks about the importance of a consumer. Mahatama Gandhi had once remarked, “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work - he is the purpose of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to serve him.”

While stressing honesty in the trade, late US president, John F. Kennedy had said, “If a consumer is offered inferior products, if prices are exorbitant, if drugs are unsafe or worthless, if the consumer is unable to choose on an informed basis, then his dollar is wasted, his health and safety may be threatened, and national interest suffers.”

The Consumers International (CI) has a charter of eight consumers rights related to basic needs; safety; information; choice; representation; redress; consumer education; and healthy environment.

According to Jaipur-based CUTS is the only country in the world, which has exclusive courts for consumer redressal and is known for the rapid development of its consumer movement.