There are very few complaints related to consumer rights from Andhra Pradesh, which means either people are satisfied with the business practice of entrepreneurs or are reluctant to register a complaint for some reason.
The National Consumer Helpline Records for April this year show 12,590 calls made in addition to 2,343 complaints lodged through website, and Delhi takes the lion’s share with 23.77 per cent of the calls at 2,993 and Andhra Pradesh does not figure in the top 10 States. The utilisation accounts for only 1.49 per cent in April.
This is the usual trend from South Indian States, opines former District Consumer Forum member P.V.V. Murthy. Not many call the helpline basically to avoid talking in Hindi or English, which are dominant languages. The Jago Grahak Jago campaign runs in all Indian languages, but a majority of the callers are from the North Indian States only.
A similar helpline with response in South Indian languages can be based in Bangalore or Hyderabad to cater to the needs of the people in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, opines Pitani Bhaskar Rao, a consumer activist from Krishna district.
Maximum calls were received from Delhi (23.77 pc) followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Punjab. The break-up is in the adjoining table.
The ‘Telecom’ sector recorded maximum complaints, i.e. 19 per cent. It was followed by Telecom Products, E-Commerce, Weights and Measures, Non-Banking Financial Companies, Public Distribution System, Banking, and Education, the helpline statistics reveal.
According to the statistics released by National Consumer Helpline of Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs recently, out of the feedback they received from 2,699 callers, 2,474 complaints were resolved under convergence by various companies. The helpline covers Airlines, Automobiles, Banking, Domestic Appliances, Electricity, Food Safety, Insurance – Legal, Legal Metrology, Medical Negligence, NBFCs, PDS, Postal, Petroleum/LPG and CNG, Real Estate, and Telecom. Consumers from across the country can access the toll-free National Consumer Help Line No.1800-11-4000 (Mon-Sat: 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.) and seek telephonic counselling for consumer related problems.
It also provides information, advice, and guidance related to consumer issues. Complaints can also be registered on the website: www.nationalconsumerhelpline.in
