Consumers Rights & MGP: Mumbai Grahak Panchayat.

World Consumer Rights Day – 15th March

In his presidential campaign in 1960, John F. Kennedy promised the American people that he would support the consumer movement. He kept his word by getting the Consumer Rights Bill passed on 15th March, 1962. This bill gave consumers the four basic rights:-

Right to Safety
Right to be Informed
Right to Chose
Right to be Heard

To acknowledge this milestone in the Consumer Movement, 15th March is recognized as the ‘World Consumer Rights Day’ from the year 1983.
At present, there are eight consumer rights. The other four are:-

Right to Basic Needs
Right to Redressal
Right to Consumer Education
Right to a Safe Environment

Consumer Rights and MGP

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA? which year) has conferred certain rights on consumers to give protection in the marketplace. “We agree with rights given to consumers. And we will do our best to live up to them”. - It is not that easy to confer rights on consumers and expect the marketplace to respect them.

To ensure his right place, the consumer has to fight.

On occasion of 15th March-World Consumer Rights Day-we are giving you a news flash of MGP’s work in protecting consumer rights.

Just the memory of last year’s price rise – especially in case of onions and vegetables is enough to bring tears to one’s eye. But crying would not help. “In such an emergency, it is imperative that govt. steps in to bring the prices of essential commodities under control” – this was the gist of the Public Interest Petition filed by MGP in Mumbai High Court. The Court dismissed the petition. However, last month the Prime Minister directed all the states to make use of the Essential Commodities Act (also ESMA)thus vindicating our stand to protect the Right to Basic Needs.

Radioactive Irish Butter, BVO in soft drinks, second grade medicines being sold by a multinational like Glaxo, ‘Cash & Carry’ system of gas cylinders – so many sensitive issues! A challenge to the physical safety of consumers! MGP rose to the challenge by holding public discussions, organizing poster exhibitions, exhorting consumers to send letters condemning certain incidents, and thus upholding the Right to Safety

“Petrol prices have risen. Our rates too must increase. Producers must have their say before the budget is finalized!” Everyone insists on being heard but who listens to the consumer? Not to worry – times are changing! MGP is in the forefront representing consumers-be it a meeting to determine rickshaw/taxi rates or to present the consumers’ say in the budget before the Parliamentary Committee. A successful attempt to uphold the Right to be heard.

A consumer needs access to the right information. MGP insists that information disbursed through advertisements has to be of the ‘right type’. The Enron Controversy is known to all but Enron’s Power Purchase Agreement’ with the State Govt. should be shown to MGP to uphold the Right to Information of consumers. The High Court gave this order and thus chalked a victory for consumers.

Selecting the right spouse or the right candidate is a well-established fact. But a 'pinch of salt' has to be of our choice - this 'fatwa' of the State Govt. was opposed tooth and nail by MGP. A mass 'Satyagraha' was observed to protest against this encroachment on individual choice. A temporary stay was obtained on compulsory sale of iodised salt and thus the consumer's Right to Choose was upheld.

Despite all this work, the real need of the consumer is to have grievances addressed. Keeping this in mind, MGP has started Consumer Guidance Cells all over the city for the individual. At the same time, it was successful in getting justice for 4 lakh scooter investors by getting their money back to the tune of 400 crores.

For proper complaint redressal, the smooth working of consumer courts is essential. The lack of proper functioning of consumer courts was highlighted by petitioning the High Court. This resulted in proper functioning of consumer courts in a short time. Three cheers to MGP for upholding the Right to Redressal.

An educated consumer is an aware consumer. MGP is constantly striving to educate consumers by holding street plays, playlets, various newspaper articles and informal workshops - thus upholding the Right to Consumer Education. Today, there are MGP columns in Loksatta, Sakal, Lokmat, Gavkari (Nasik), Ghatkopar-Chembur Westside Plus. Remember, an aware consumer is a responsible consumer!

Parleshwar Mandir Project - A sample of success - MGP launched a project to manufacture compost from used flowers (nirmalya). Ideally, any temple offers scope for such activity. Hence, MGP volunteers undertook such project at Parleshwar Mandir at Vile Parle (East), Mumbai, with effect from December, 2002. On an average 125 Kg. compost is manufactured per month and it is being sold on 'no profit - no loss' basis.

Unique Recycling Experiment of MGP and JMGSS - MGP is campaigning to promote cloth bags over plastic bags for last 20 years through its monthly groceries distribution system, which caters to about 20,000 families in Mumbai and surrounding suburbs. The daily necessities like wheat, rice and sugar etc. are supplied to the member families every month through about 20,000 cloth bags which the member send back every month properly washed and used again and again in the distribution system. The worn out bags are replaced every 3 years. In addition to this, MGP uses annually about 9,000 kg (80-100 bags per kg. depending upon their sizes) of plastic bags in the distribution system, about 20% of which are collected in different centres in Mumbai and send to the traders for recycling. This is unique experiment in the world of three R's - Recovery, Reuse and Recycle.MGP's endeavor is to promote the use of "permanent carry bags". MGP advocates a penalty system for those who do not bring their bag instead of rewarding customers who bring their own bags. Disposable mentality and disposable economy are the legacy from the past century. Instead of saying "Please recycle them!" MGP's slogan is "Please reuse them until almost in shreds and they recycle them!" Recycling is great and always a better choice than disposal. However, reuse is always the best choice.

Right to Environment -

MGP Volunteers took part in the Mayor’s ‘Khubsoorat Mumbai’ project and walked away with prizes. Also, an ongoing attempt to create awareness about environment by staging street plays ‘Khubsoorat Mumbai’ all over the city.