CONSUMER RIGHTS

PROJECT

Name-Lakshy sahay

Class-10‘A’

Roll No.-12

Subject-Social science Submitted to-Arshad sir

Acknowledgement

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher mr.

Arshad sir as well as our principal ma’am mrs. Swati acharjee who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic “Consumer Rights”, which also helped me in doing a lot of research. I came to know about much new things. I am really thankful to them, also I would also like to thank my elder brother who helped me a lot in finalizing this project within the limited time frame.

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Lakshy Sahay of class 10th ‘A’ is awarded this certificate for completition of the project on ‘Consumer Rights’ under the guidance of Mr. Arshad khan sir.

Teacher’s signature ________________

INDEX

(1) Who is a Consumer? (2) Difference between a customer and a consumer? (3) Consumer Rights (4) Consumer Responsibilities (5) Factors which cause exploitation of consumers (6) Consumer movements in India (7) Consumer protection

(8) National Consumers Rights Day (9) Bibliography

WHO IS A

CONSUMER?

Consumers can be either an individual or group of people who purchase or use goods and services solely for personal use, and not for manufacturing or resale. They are the end-users in the sales distribution chain.

difference between a customer and a consumer?

Sometimes, consumers are not the people who

actually purchased a product. simply, the customer is the person who buys the product, and the consumer is the person who uses it. The terms are often used interchangeably because most of the time, the customer will be the consumer.

CONSUMER RIGHTS

Every country prescribes its own set of consumer rights to its people to ensure maximum protection to the citizens of a country. The meaning of consumer awareness extends to knowing the meaning of consumer rights. There are six important consumer rights that have been listed down for the people of India by the government of India; these rights are as follows:

(1)The right to

safety

(2)The right to

be informed

(3)The right to

choose

(4)The right to be

heard

(5)The right to

redress

(6)The right to

consumer education

2. Right to Information

Right to Information states that a consumer has the right to be informed about the quantity, quality, purity, price, and standard of goods and services. The basic aim of this right is to protect consumers from any abusive and unfair trade practices. The right says that a producer must supply all the relevant information for consumers at a suitable place.

1.Right to Safety

Right to Safety states that a consumer has the right to be protected against the marketing of hazardous goods and services to their life and property. It is essential for consumers for their secure and safe life and consists of concern for the present requirement and long-term interests of the consumers.

3. Right to Choose

Right to Choose states that a consumer has the right to choose the goods and services of their choice or liking. In simple terms, it means that the consumers are given an assurance of ability, availability, and access to different products and services at a competitive price.

4. Right to be Heard

Right to be Heard states that a consumer has the right to be heard or advocate his/her interest or represent himself/herself. In simple terms, if a consumer has been exploited by a business or has a complaint regarding a business, good, or service, then he/she has the right to be heard and assured that his/her interest would be taken into consideration.

5. Right to Seek Redressal

Right to Seek Redressal states that a consumer has the right to seek redressal and get compensation against exploitation or any other unfair trade practices. In simple terms, this right aims at assuring justice to the consumer against exploitation. The compensation can be in form of money, replacement of goods, or repair of defective goods according to the satisfaction of the consumer.

6. Right to Consumer Education

Right to Consumer Education states that a consumer has the right to acquire the required knowledge and skills to be an informed consumer. Literate consumers can easily attain required information, know their rights, and take actions, but illiterate consumers cannot. Therefore, this right assures that illiterate consumers can seek information regarding their rights, existing acts, and agencies set up for their protection.

Consumers’ Responsibilities

In order to protect the interests of consumers, government and non-government organizations have made various efforts. But, these efforts can be helpful and can stop exploitation only when the consumers themselves will understand their responsibilities and move forward to safeguard their interests. Some of the responsibilities of consumers are as follows:

1. A consumer must exercise his/her right

2. A consumer must be cautious

3. A consumer must be quality-conscious

4. A consumer should file complaints for the redressal of genuine

grievances

5. A consumer must insist on a cash memo

6. A consumer should not get carried away by advertisements

7. A consumer should use the products safely

8. A consumer must be honest

9. Save Environment

10. Form Consumer Organization

1. A consumer must exercise his/her right The Consumer Protection Act grants various rights to the consumer. But these rights can prove to be useful only when the consumer exercises these rights. In other words, a consumer must choose the product according to his/her taste and preferences, must file a complaint if the quality of the product is not satisfactory, and must be aware of his/her rights and exercise them when required.

2. A consumer must be cautious It is the responsibility of the consumer not to blindly trust the words of the seller. He/she must first attain full information on the quantity, price, quality, standard, etc., of the product or service. By being cautious, the consumer can most of the time avoid exploitation or unfair practices.

3. A consumer must be quality-conscious If the consumers stop compromising on the quality of products, then only the problems of adulterated products, duplicate products, and substandard products can be resolved. Therefore, while purchasing goods or services, a consumer must look for quality marks Different marks indicating quality in different products are: like ISI marks, Agmark, etc.

4. A consumer should file complaints for the redressal of genuine grievances

Usually, when a consumer receives a defective good or service, he/she tends to ignore the loss suffered.

However, this attitude of the consumers of not filing a complaint encourages the businessmen to practice unfair trade practices to supply bad quality or defective goods and services. It is the responsibility of the consumer to file a complaint even when the loss is small.

5. A consumer must insist on a cash memo Consumers usually do not ask for a cash memo after making a purchase of goods and services, and the cash memo is compulsory as evidence of purchase while filing a complaint. A seller is bound to give a cash memo to the buyer even if he/she does not ask for it.

6. A consumer should not get carried away by advertisements

Advertisements of products or services tend to exaggerate their features and quality. While making a purchase for goods and services, a consumer must compare the actual use of that good with the use told or shown in the advertisement.

7. A consumer should use the products safely Before using a product or service, a consumer has the responsibility to first read its user manual, learn about the risks associated with them, and use the goods safely.

8. A consumer must be honest While making a deal with the seller, a consumer should be honest and not engage in any illegal trade, and should also discourage black marketing, hoarding, etc.

9. Save Environment

A consumer is also responsible for keeping the environment safe. He/she can do so by avoiding contributing to pollution, waste, and littering.

10. Form Consumer Organization

Consumers should also form consumer organizations or societies to play an active role in the education and protection of their interests.

Factors which cause exploitation of consumers are:

Factors which cause exploitation of consumers are:

1. Lack of awareness of consumer rights among buyers.

2. Improper and inadequate monitoring of rules and regulations.

3. Individual purchase quantity is quite small.

4. Consumers are scattered over large areas.

5. Lack of awareness among consumers.

6. Greed of businessperson.

7. Lax enforcement of rules.

8. Slow and time taking process of consumer grievance redressal.

Consumer Movement in India.

(1)Due to shortage of food, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of edible oil and food, there was rampant exploitation of consumers. Hence, it gave rise to the consumer movement in the 1960 s. This movement was in an organised form.

(2)There was no legal system in India to protect the consumers in the marketplace which resulted in rampant exploitation.

(3)In 1986, the Consumer Protection Act was enacted by the Government of India. This was a crucial step in the evolution of the consumer movement in India to protect the rights of the consumers. This law is usually known as COPRA.

(4)Under the provision of COPRA, a three-tier quasi judicial system was established at the district, national and state levels.

This was done to redress the consumer grievances.

Consumer Protection: Ways To Get Justice

The details on how a consumer can get justice have been elaborated below:

(1)The district-level authority is called the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission which deals with cases involving claims up to Rs 1 crore.

(2)Similarly, the authority at the state level is called the State Commission and it deals with cases involving claims of Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore.

(3)National level authority known as National Commission - deals with cases involving claims of more than Rs 10 crore.

(4)If the consumer's case is rejected at the district level, he can appeal to the state-level commission and then to the national-level commission.

National Consumer Rights Day [24th December]

India celebrates National Consumer Rights Day on 24th December every year to spread awareness about consumer rights and responsibilities. This day commemorates the day when Consumer Protection

Act received the assent of the President on 24th December 1986 and came into force. Since then, National Consumer Rights Day is celebrated each year to educate people about their rights as consumers.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(1) NCERT CLASS 10 ECONOMICS BOOK

(2) WIKIPEDIA

(3) https://consumeraffairs.nic.in/

(4) https://www.jagograhakjago.com/

(5)ncdrc.nic.in