The Consumer Ministry, both at the central as well as state level, is the most ‘neglected’ despite mandate to take care of 123 crore consumers, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Saturday.
Expressing concern about vacant posts and lack of infrastructure at state and district consumer courts, the Consumer Affairs Minister appreciated their efforts in disposing of 41 lakh cases in the last 30 years despite poor facilities. Paswan urged the state governments to provide adequate facilities for smooth functioning of these courts as there is expected to be a ‘flood’ cases after the new Consumer Protection Bill gets passed in Parliament. The government has made sweeping changes in the bill to protect consumer rights.
“I had told the Prime Minister in the first meeting that we have 123 crore population and all are consumers, but the Department has been most neglected, be it at Centre or state level,” Paswan said at an event organised to celebrate the National Consumer Day here. It is commendable that the consumer courts have been able to dispose of 41 lakh cases since the 1986 when the Consumer Protection law was enacted, he said.