Joint Collector A. Ravinder Reddy called upon consumer forums and consumer rights associations to create awareness among people to insist on quality of the product and improve the attitude of questioning in them.
Formally launching the World Consumer Rights Day celebrations here on Sunday, he felt that many people in rural areas are not keen on revealing the injustice of traders, and claim compensation from them. He said that there is an urgent need to simplify the rules to claim compensation.
Magistrate Bharath Nagesh said that unscrupulous traders would do injustice to consumers till the latter did not come forward to file cases.
District consumer forum information centre in-charge M. Rajeswar stressed upon the improvement of awareness on consumer rights among women. He said the Consumers Act brought about by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986 proved to be very useful.
If injustice is meted out to consumers, they have every right to claim compensation up to Rs.20 lakh at district forum and Rs.1 crore at State forum. Senior advocate Basa Rajeswar and Consumers Federation district president Gujja Rajeswari also spoke.
The Joint Collector later gave away prizes to degree students P. Santhose Kumar, Vijay Arun and D. Naresh who came in first, second and third positions respectively in the painting competitions on consumer awareness. T
Karimnagar Special Correspondent writes: Consumers have every right to collect receipts after making purchases in the market, said Joint Collector Pausumi Basu.
Participating as chief guest at the World Consumer Rights Day programme organised by the Karimnagar Consumers Council at Film Bhavan, the she called upon consumers to lodge complaints to her if any trader or business establishment fails to provide receipts after making purchases.
Quoting the benefits of purchasing generic medicines, she said that a generic medicine shop is available at district headquarters hospital. District Supply Officer B. Chandra Prakash warned traders, including petrol filling stations, of serious action if they resort to adulteration and irregularities.
Chairman of Confederation of All Telangana Consumer organisations (CATCO) N. Srinivas explained how to penalise traders for resorting to irregularities through Karimnagar Consumers Council.
Jammikunta Home Science College professor Prashanthi wanted consumers to check the expiry date before purchase of food items. She also educated consumers to close the salt container lid as the iodine would evaporate.
Agriculture Training College officer Surekha, Weights and Measures District Inspector Ratna Prabha, Drug Inspector J. Raju, Karimnagar Consumers Council leaders V. Laxman Kumar, R Chandra Prabhakar, Prakash Holla and others were also present.
