Vellore District Collector R. Nanthagopal has appealed to the public to confine themselves to need-based purchases and need-based consumption in order to reduce expenditure and accumulation of unwanted goods at home.
Presiding over the district-level World Consumer Rights Day celebration organized on behalf of the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection at the Collectorate here on Monday, Mr. Nanthagopal said that whenever some consumers went to self-service supermarkets, they were in the habit of purchasing things which are attractively packed, but which they do not essentially require. They should avoid this tendency not only to reduce their expenditure but also to avoid accumulation of unwanted goods at home, and accumulation of plastic wastes. “Re-think, before deciding to buy a product”, he said.
The Collector advised the public to obtain receipts whenever they buy products in shops, and to avoid waste of food at home and elsewhere. Eating habits of children should be monitored and they should be dissuaded from eating food which is not nutritious, he said.
Mr. Nanthagopal said that consumers should question the wisdom of jewellery shop owners in charging a high rate for wastage, for, the gold is not wasted during the process of making the jewels, but is actually collected and re-used by them.
K. Manivannan, District Revenue Officer, Vellore asked consumers to study the ingredients of products printed on the wrapper and check for the expiry date and `best before date’ before buying them. Consumers have the right of complaint against sale of sub-standard goods, he said.
The Collector awarded certificates to the winners of inter-school and inter-collegiate competitions conducted in connection with the World Consumer Rights Day celebration. K. Kandasamy, District Supply and Consumer Protection Officer welcomed the gathering. S.R. Gopinath, Regional Manager, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Vellore, V. Senthil Kumar, Designated Officer, Food Security and Drug Administration Department, K. Kumareswaran, president, Federation of Consumer Organizations of Tamil Nadu and District Coordinator of Consumer Clubs of Colleges and Schools, T. Basheeruddin, president of the Pernambut Consumer Protection Society and V. Gunaseelan, president, Ambur Consumer Council spoke.
S. Thameen, Special Tahsildar (Flying Squad), office of the DSO proposed a vote of thanks.
