The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 500 consumer clubs planned in colleges

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Sunday, Nov 16, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

500 consumer clubs planned in colleges

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The State government is planning to start 500 consumer clubs in colleges.

Already 100 clubs are functioning, and the rest will be opened soon, Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection K. Rajaraman said on Saturday.

Participating in “Consumerfest 2008,” a festival of citizen consumer clubs, organised by the Department, the Consumers Association of India and the MOP Vaishnava College for Women, he said that already 1,000 schools had these clubs. The purpose of starting consumer clubs in educational institutions was to make students responsible citizens and alert consumers.

He said the clubs had sensitised students to their rights. He wanted the clubs to remain active by organising seminars, competitions and workshops on various aspects of consumerism.

They should also organise regular meetings, conduct market research and celebrate the Consumer Day every year. The Government was giving Rs. 20,000 per group in grant over a period of two years. He wanted them to make the best use of the grant.

R. Desikan, trustee, Consumers’ Association of India, said students should be aware of their rights as consumers and should not be carried way by sugar-coated words of product manufacturers.

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