Trips to the supermarkets, online shopping, is a common scenario in every household and day-to-day family life and the routine has become a part of our daily life.
As consumers, consumer rights are an integral part of our lives. You all may have made use of them at some point in your daily lives. The market is growing rapidly, so is the awareness of one’s consumer rights. We have agencies like the government, consumer courts, and voluntary organizations that work towards safeguarding these well-defined rights. You all should be aware of your rights and make full use of them.
Today as the consumer purchasing power is increasing, so are mass production and industrial production. This helps to give the consumer world an entirely new dimension. You must have wondered how many urban consumers depend on the market for the fulfilment of even their basic needs. This extra dependence on the market results in the mass production of products where the motive of the manufacturer dealers is to make a profit. This gives them a good reason to exploit consumers.
As a consumer, you should know if products prescribe to quality standards specified by quality-control agencies or not. Ignorance will result in you not only getting value for your money but also often you may have to suffer losses and inconvenience due to market manipulations.
The Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced to strengthen the rights of consumers and everyone should know them.
Below are the Consumer rights you should be aware of to safeguard consumer interest:
- Right to Safety Right to Information
- Right to Choose
- Right to be Heard
- The Right to Redress
- The right to consumer education.
These rights are redefined keeping in mind the situations and realities of a developing country like India, where the environment plays a very important role as a resource and support structure for the people. In India, a large portion of the population looks for food security, assured safe water supply, shelter, education, and health services. For India’s 1 billion population, food security and a safe environment are more essential needs. Any other consumer options and rights. The natural resources of a developing country, serve as a resource base for the developed world’s industrial output.
Now let’s know more about each right
- Rights to Safety
Rights are fundamental to the safety and security of life. It guarantees protection of the consumers against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property. It includes issues for consumer’s long -term interest as well as for their current requirement. It also includes any manufacturing defects in electrical or non-electrical appliances that may cause loss to life, health, and property of customers. Thus, this right to safety protects the consumer from the sale of such hazardous goods or services.
- Right to Information
The consumer has the freedom to get information about the quality, quantity, purity, standard, and price of goods or services to protect himself against abusive and unfair practices. The seller/producer must supply all the relevant information at a suitable place.
- Right to Choose
Every consumer has the liberty to choose the goods or services of his or her preferences. Through this right consumers get an assurance of availability, ability, and access to a variety of products and services at a competitive price, and a competitive price which is just or fair price.
The producer or supplier or retailer should not force the consumer to buy a particular brand only. A consumer should be free to choose the most suitable product from his point of view.
- Right to be Heard
To represent himself or to be heard or the right to advocate his interest, the consumer should make use of this right. If ever in case a consumer has been exploited or has any complaint against the product or service. Consumer has the right to be heard or complaint and be assured that his/her interest would receive due consideration. This right includes the right to representation in the government and other policy-making bodies. Under this right, the companies must have complaint cells to attend to the complaints of customers.
- The Right to Redress
The consumer has the right to get remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance against unfair trade practices or any other exploitation. This right assures justice to a consumer against exploitation or unfair practices.
This right includes compensation in the form of money or replacement of goods or repair of a defect in the goods as per the satisfaction of the consumer. Various redressal forums are set up by the government at a national level and state level.
- The Right to consumer education.
The right to consumer education provides the public with the information it needs on products and services so it can make well-informed decisions on what it is purchasing and from whom it purchases. It enables consumers understand their rights and become active participants in the buying process. Through this right the companies are held accountable by governing agencies and the consumers that use their products and services if found guilty.
The government of India has included consumer education in the school curriculum and various university courses. The government is also making use of media to make the consumers aware of their rights.