The document discusses consumer rights and protection in India. It summarizes that consumers face exploitation through issues like poor quality goods, unfair pricing and trade practices. The consumer movement in India grew to address such issues. The Indian government has established laws and organizations to protect consumers, such as the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 and consumer courts. The document outlines some of the rights that consumers have as well as responsibilities to make informed choices and complaints regarding issues.

1. CHAPTER - 5
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2. INTRODUCTION
• In this chapter we shall read how
consumers are exploited and what steps
the government is taking to protect their
interests. What are the factors causing
exploitation of consumers.
• How consumer movement originated as a
social force with the necessity of
protecting and promoting the interests of
consumers against unethical and unfair
trade practices.

3. • The Indian government enacted
the COPRA in 1986 on 24th
December. Since then this day is
celebrated as consumer Day in
India.
• In October 2005, the government
of India also enacted the RTI (Right
to Information) Act which ensures
its citizens all the information
about the functions of government
departments under COPRA a three
tier quasi judicial machinery has
been set up for redressal of
consumer disputes. In this chapter
we shall also focus on the Duties of
a Consumer and the drawback of
COPRA.

4. THE CONSUMER IN THE MARKETPLACE
• We participate in the market both
as producers and consumers. As
producers of goods and services
we could be working in any of the
sectors discussed earlier such as
agriculture. Industry, or services.
• Consumers participate in the
market when they purchase
goods and services that they
need. These are the final goods
that people as consumers use.

5. • For example, moneylenders in
the informal sector adopt
various tricks to bind the
borrower: they could make the
producer sell the produce to
them at a low rate in return for
a timely loan; they could force a
small farmer like Swapna to sell
her land to pay back the loan.
• Similarly, many people who
work in the unorganized sector
have to work at a low wage and
accept conditions that are not
fair and are also often harmful
to their health.

6. Exploitation in the
marketplace happens in
various ways.
• Sometimes traders
indulge in unfair trade
practices such as when
shopkeepers weigh less
than what they should
or when traders add
charges that were not
mentioned before, or
when
adulterated/defective
goods are sold.

7. CONSUMER MOVEMENT
The consumer
movement arose
out of
dissatisfaction of
the consumers as
many unfair
practices were
being indulged in
by the sellers.

8. CONSUMER
RIGHT
1. SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S
RIGHT
Example of Reji :
• Reji’s suffering shows how a
hospital, due to negligence by
the doctors and staff in giving
anesthesia, crippled a student for
life.
• While using many goods and
services, we as consumers, have
the right to be protected against
the marketing of goods and
delivery of services that are
hazardous to life and property.

9. • In recent times, the right to information has been
expanded to cover various services provided by the
Government .
• In October 2005, the Government of India enacted a
law, popularly known as RTI (Right to Information) Act,
which ensures its citizens all the information about the
functions of government departments.

10. • Any consumer who receives a
service in whatever capacity,
regardless of age, gender and
nature of service, has the right
to choose whether to
continue to receive the
service.
• Suppose you want to buy
toothpaste, and the shop
owner says that she can sell
the toothpaste only if you buy
a tooth brush. If you are not
interested in buying the brush,
your right to choice is denied.

11. 3. Where should
consumers go to get
justice?
• Consumers have the right
to seek redressal against
unfair trade practices and
exploitation. If any
damage is done to a
consumer, she/he has the
right to get compensation
depending on the degree
of damage.
• There is a need to provide
an easy and effective
public system by which
this can be done.

12. • If you are living in a
residential colony, you
might have noticed
name boards of
Resident Welfare
Associations. If there is
any unfair trade practice
meted out to their
members they take up
the case on their behalf.
• Under COPRA, a three-
tier quasi-judicial
machinery at the
district, state and
national levels was set
up for redressal of
consumer disputes.

13. LEARNING TO
BECOME
WELL-
INFORMED
CONSUMERS
When we as consumers
become conscious of our
rights, while purchasing
various goods and services,
we will be able to
discriminate and make
informed choices.
This calls for acquiring the
knowledge and skill to
become a well-informed
consumer.

14. • The enactment of COPRA
has led to the setting up of
separate departments of
Consumer Affairs in
central and state,
government.
• The posters that you have
seen are one example
through which
government spread
information about legal
process which people can
use. You might also be
seeing such
advertisements on
television channels.

15. TAKING THE CONSUMER
MOVEMENT FORWARD
• India has been
observing 24
December as the
National
Consumers 'Day. It
was on this day
that the Indian
Parliament enacted
the Consumer
Protection Act in
1986.
• India is one of the
countries that have
exclusive courts for
consumer
redressal.

16. • In most purchases cash
memos are not issued hence
evidence is not easy to gather.
• Moreover most purchases in
the market are small retail
sales. The existing laws also
are not very clear on the issue
of compensation to consumers
injured by defective products.

17. Q. Mention a few factors which cause
exploitation of consumers.
Ans. Factors which cause exploitation of
consumers are:
• Lack of awareness of consumer rights among
buyers.
• Improper and inadequate monitoring of rule
and regulations.
• Individual purchase quantity is quite small.
• Consumers are scattered over large areas.

18. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Consumer :– When we pay a price for a
commodity or service and use it, we become
consumers.
• Forms of Consumer Exploitation :
(i) Underweight and Under - measurements
(ii) Sub - standard Quality
(iii) High Prices
(iv) Duplicate Articles
(v) Adulteration and Impurity

20. Rise of Consumer
Awareness : –
• In India, the concept of
consumer protection is
not new. References to
the protection of
consumers’ interest
against exploitation by
trade and industry,
underweight and
measurement,
adulteration and
punishment for these
offences, were made in
Kautilya’s Artha-shastra.

21. When the government withdrew itself from
production activities and allowed the private sector
to take over, it was felt that there is a greater need to
enforce discipline and regulation in the market.
Food safety become an important element of
consumer awareness these days.
This called for a strong legal measure to ensure that
the manufacturers and sellers observe uniformity
and transparency in prices, stocks and quality of
their goods.

22. Rights and Duties of Consumer
Rights – Duties –
(1)Right to Safety
(2)Right to be
Informed
(3)Right to
Choose
(4)Right to be
Heard
(5)Right to Seek
Redressal
(6)Right to
Consumer
Education
(1)While purchasing the goods look at
the quality of the products as well as
on the guarantee of the products and
services.
(2)Wherever possible, consumers
should ask for memo for the items
purchased cash.
(3)Form consumer awareness
organisations.
(4)Must make complaint for genuine
grievances.
(5)Must know rights and exercise them.

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