Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah has said that protection of consumers’ interests is the State Government’s priority. A number of decisions in favour of consumers have been taken in the State in recent years. He said that chairpersons and members of consumer forums where cases are decided within 90 days will be felicitated.
The Minister was addressing a seminar marking World Consumer Protection Day at Academy of Administration here on Saturday. He also felicitated organisations for outstanding performance in consumer protection sector.
Kunwar Shah said that interests of 5.25 crore population of the State is linked with Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department. As a result of this, responsibilities of departmental officers assume increased significance. The Minister said that State and district-level consumer protection councils will be reconstituted within a month.
Effective efforts will be made to appoint judges in consumer forums in the district where their number is short. He urged voluntary organisations to make efforts to give practical shape to consumer protection laws. Referring to PDS in the State, the Minister said that Control Act will soon be implemented in Madhya Pradesh. More facilities will be given to PDS consumers through the Act.
The Minister said that Public Services Delivery Guarantee Act has been implemented in the State to provide timely services to people. Under the Act, provision has also been made to impose fine on officers and employees committing negligence. Ration shops have also been linked with CM Helpline-181.
Chairman of Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Justice Rakesh Saxena said that first of all, consumer protection law was formulated in America on March 15, 1962. Such law was enacted in India in 1986. Changes in the law have since been made from time to time. Justice Shri Saxena also laid emphasis on forming a special forum to inform consumers about brand value. Principal Secretary Food and Consumer Protection Shri Ashok Warnwal more consumer-related complaints are received regarding branded goods.