Beset with several problems, the Consumer Redressal Forum in Baleswar district is not able perform satisfactorily. There are 31 such forums across the State, including two in Sundargarh district. The forum in Baleswar began operation in 1990. Earlier it was functioning from a rented building, but now it is operating from its own building near the collectorate. The forum constitutes a president and two members, including a woman member, but hardly has any one seen the full bench working. It is learnt that the present president is a native of Kendrapada, while the woman member is a resident of Khordha.
Sources said the president of the forum receives a fixed remuneration of Rs15, 000 per month, while the members get Rs12,000 a month each. “Our remuneration is too less.
It is even less than what a peon gets in our office. The president and members of many other States receive much higher amount. We are lacking financial encouragement. As the office is not working with its optimal capacity, it is not able to deliver the service,” said a member of the forum requesting anonymity. He added that the counselling mechanism for consumers should be revamped.