Need to aware consumers of their rights-Chief Minister

INVC,,

Shimlaa,,

There is need for mass awareness campaign to educate consumers of their rights and strict vigil over the expired consumer products and medicines to protect consumers against health hazards.

This was stated by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister after he dedicated the newly constructed District Consumer Forum Office building at Dhalpur, Kullu constructed at a cost of Rs. 37.65 lakh to the people of the district today.

Chief Minister said that it had been endeavour of the State Government to fulfil expectations and aspirations of all sections of the society. He said that common man had to be delivered benefits of all schemes and welfare programmes of the State Government. He said that protection of rights of common man had to be ensured by the concerned authorities. He also appealed to the awakened society to also educate and protect interests of the common man.

Prof. Dhumal said that with the availability of suitable space for Consumer Forum activities at Kullu, people of Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti districts would be benefited in protecting their consumer rights and also create mass awareness amongst all section of the society. He said that the Forum would help in redressal of consumer affairs issues more conveniently. He laid stressed over the mass awareness campaign amongst consumers of all walks of life. He appealed to the people to ask for proper bills from the shopkeepers for their purchase, as it helps in claiming the damages in case the product was below prescribed norms. He said that State Excise and Taxation Department had also launched a consumer protection schemes with attractive rewards to the consumers for buying different products from the market.

Chief Minister said that justice at the door steps of the people were being ensured by the State Government. He said that ‘Prashasan Janta Ke Dwar Par’ was one of such ambitious programmes which had been providing opportunity to the people to get their grievances redressed at their door-steps. He said that prompt disposal of cases and redressal of grievances of common man was on the priority agenda of the State Government. He said that the State Government was committed to provide best of the benefits to the judiciary. He said that State Government had implemented ‘Shetty Commission’ recommendations for the benefit of the judiciary to protect their interests so that justice was delivered to the public conveniently. He reiterated resolve of the Government to provide cheaper and convenient justice to common man. He urged judiciary to be sensitive towards the appellants who had their cases pending in the Consumer Forums etc.

Shri Gobind Thakur, Local MLA welcomed and thanked Chief Minister for catering to the developmental requirements of the area. He assured the advocates of funds for the library and a parking slot close to Court complex.

Shri Arun Kumar Goel, Chairman, State Consumer Commission, also welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for dedicating the District Consumer Forum building. He detailed the objectives of Consumer Forum constitution. Shri A.K. Goel, Chairman, State Consumer Forum presented a draft of Rs. 50,031 towards Chief Minister Relief Fund on the occasion.