CONSUMERISM
MEANING OF CONSUMERISM:
Consumerism is a social force designed to protect business interest in the market
place by organising and exerting consumer pressure on business.
Consumerism is a protest of consumers against unfair marketing practices and
injustices, it aims to remove those injustices and eliminate those unfair marketing
practices.
Consumerism is a fight against unfair trade practices and to secure the consumer
protection.
Consumerism is an attempt to eliminate unfair trade practices such as adulteration,
fictitious pricing, deceptive packaging, false and misleading advertisements, black
marketing, short weights and measures etc.
FEATURES OF CONSUMERISM:
From the analysis of the above mentioned definition, the following important features of
consumerism can be identifies.
1. Consumerism is an attempt to rectify the imbalance in transaction between seller and
buyer.
2. It is based on the approach to remove all those injustices and eliminate all those unfair
marketing practices.
3. It is movement to protect and promote the interest of consumers.
4. Consumerism is interested in protecting consumers from any organisation having any
exchange relationship, which could be a profit or non-profit organisations like
hospitals, schools, colleges, clubs and NGOs.
5. It aims at removal or reduction of any type of discontentment and dissatisfaction
generated in the exchange of relationship between buyer and sellers in the market.
6. To have consumer friendly marketing practices and policies is the main focus of
consumerism.
7. Under consumerism it is expected that consumer is a king who has a dominant voice
in shaping the marketing mix of an organisation.
GROWTH AND LEGAL AGENCIES PROTECTING CONSUMERISM:
The term consumerism was first used in India in the mid of 1960s. Then different Acts like:
1.
2.
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4.
5.
6.
7.
Consumer protection act 1986
MRTP act 1969
Air (prevention and control of pollution) act 1981
Environment protection act 1986
Essential commodities act 1955
Drugs and cosmetics act 1940
Prevention of Foods Adulteration act 1954 was passed and revised, reviewed and
amended from time to time.
GOVERNMENT MACHING FOR REDRESSAL OF CONSUMERS GRIVENCES:
There are different government agencies working at various levels for the redressel of
consumers grievances like:
1. DISTRICT FORUM:
Every state government has established district form at each district having the
following composition and features:
a. District forum shall consist of a chairman, and two members appointed by the
State Government.
b. These district forums will have the power of a civil court for enquiring in the
complaints.
c. It can receive consumer complaints where the value of the goods and service and
compensation claimed is less than rupees five lakhs.
d. After receiving the complaint these forum shall refer the complaints to the opposite
concerned party and the samples of the party is sent to the laboratory for testing.
e. If the district forum is satisfied that the goods are defective and there is some
unfair trade practice can issue an order to the opposite party directing him to
either remove the defect or replace the goods or return the price paid or pay
compensation to the consumer for loss or injury etc.
f. An appeal against the District Forum can be filed to the State Commission within
30 days.
2. STATE COMMISSION:
State Government will step up State Commission having its jurisdiction restricted to
the boundaries of the state concerned.
WORKING AND COMPOSITION OF STATE COMMISSION:
a. The State commission shall consist of president who is either is or has been judge
of a High Court and two other members. All these would be appointed by State
Government.
b. If the amount of complaints is between Rupees Five Lakhs to Twenty lakhs then it
can be filed with State Government.
c. If there is any appeal against order of any District Forum can also be filed before
the state commission.
d. State commission is expected to refer the complaint to the opposite party
concerned and send the samples of goods for retesting in the laboratory.
e. In case the goods were being defective state commission can issue an order
directing the opposite party to either remove the defect or replace the goods or
return the price paid or pay the compensation to the consumer for loss or injury.
f. If the part is of the opinion that the state commission could not do justice with
them can put an appeal within 30 days to National Commission.
3. NATIONAL COMMISSION:
a. Central Government set up the National Commission.
b. National Commission shall consist of a president who is or has been a judge of the
Supreme Court and other members appointed by the central government.
c. All complaints having claims of goods valued above Rupees Twenty Lakhs can be
filed to the National commission.
d. In fact the National Commission shall have the same powers at that of a Civil Court
in dealing with cases and follow the procedures prescribed by the Central
Government.
e. The national commission can make the manufacturer to comply with safety
provisions and pay compensation for loss or injury caused.
f. The national commission has to power, in case of default, to issue orders for recall
of defective or unsafe products for replacement or removal of deficiency in service.
MEANING OF COMPLAINT:
Complaint is any allegation in writing made by a complainant referring to any defect or
deficiency in the product.
Defect : by defect we mean any fault imperfection or short-coming in the quality,
quantity, potency, purity or standard which is required to be maintained by or under
any law for the time being in force under any contract, express or implied or as is
claimed by the trader in any manner whatsoever in relation to any goods.
Deficiency: it means any fault, imperfection short coming or inadequacy in the
quality, nature and manner of performance which is required to be maintained by or
under any law for the time being in force or has been undertaken to be performed by a
person in pursuance of a contract or otherwise in relation to any service.
FEATURES OF COMPLAINT:
Following can be the elements or features of complaints
1. It can be any unfair trade practice or a restrictive trade practice has been adopted by
any trader.
2. If the goods bought by a consumer suffer from one or more defects of any type.
3. If the trader has charged price in excess of the price fixed or under any law for the
time being in force or displayed on goods or any package.
REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO A DISSATISFIED CONSUMER:
Following different remedies can be made available to a dissatisfied consumer through
different redressal machinery:
1. To remove the defects or any deficiency in the services provide to a dissatisfied
customer.
2. Removal of defective goods on the demand of the dissatisfied customer.
3. On the request of the customer the replacement of goods with new goods of similar
description which shall be free from any defect.
4. If the customer have been overcharged the refund of excess money charged
5. If the goods have been returned by the unsatisfied customer the return of the price by
the seller or manufacturer, as the case may be.
6. To ensure that no hazardous goods for sale have been offered for sale.
7. To provide compensation if the customer has suffered any type of loss due to supply of
defective goods or services.
8. Discontinue unfair or restrictive trade practices and to further ensure that these are
not being repeated.
IMPORTANCE OF CONSUMERISM:
Due to awaking and increase in the education level among consumer consumerism has
become very important due to:
1. To discourage unfair practice because present day consumers are united and
organised, so manufacturer and seller cannot cheat the consumers.
2. The movement of consumerism has brought awareness and awakening among the
consumers and have organised them.
3. Consumerism, in fact, protects the consumers against exploitation by the producer
and seller.
4. Due to consumerism, as consumer are well-organized, the producer and seller cannot
adopt anti-social practices like Black marketing, Hoarding and Adulteration etc.
5. In fact consumerism has geared up the government machinery to strongly implement
information to the consumers about the different goods and services available in the
market and the rights of consumer in that connection.
RIGHTS
OF THE
CONSUME
RS
right to be
heared
right to be
informed
right to
choose
goods and
services
right to ask
redressal in
case of
complaints
right to
safety from
googs and
services
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONSUMERS:
1. Action to act on fair statement
2. Social responsibility of consumer towards other citizens, society, national and
international community.
3. Sensitivity towards environmental friendly goods and services.
4. Awareness towards optimum use of natural resources of the country.
5. To have solidarity through formulation of consumer groups having necessary strength
to protect the interest of the consumer.
6. To have general awareness about the availability and proper use of goods and services
IMPORTANT CONSUMER ORGANISATION IN INDIA FOR CONSUMER
PROTECTION:
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VOICE, New Delhi
Consumer protection and research society New Delhi
India Federation of consumers organisations, New Delhi
Consumer service society, New Delhi
Common causes, New Delhi
Consumer guidance society of India, Mumbai
Consumer flying squad, Chennai
Consumers association , Kolkata
Consumer protection council, Trichi.
IMPORTANT LEGAL LAWS FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION:
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Consumer protection act, 1986
MRTP act 1969
Environmental protection act, 1986
Essential commodities act, 1955
Air prevention and control of pollution act 1981
Prevention of food adulteration act 1954
Drugs and cosmetics act 1940.
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