Director General of Police (DGP), Jharkhand, Ajay Kumar Singh today said that raising awareness about counterfeiting and smuggling is crucial for safeguarding consumer health and safety. Educational programs will play a crucial role in informing consumers about the hazards associated with illicit products, empowering them to make informed decisions and shield themselves from potential risks, he added.
Singh was addressing people as Chief Guest during the programme on ‘Breaking the Chains of Illicit Trade: Seminar to Curb Counterfeiting and Smuggling,’ organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (FICCI CASVADE) on Thursday in the State Capital.
Singh said that by promoting awareness and fostering a vigilant mindset, we can provide consumers with the necessary knowledge and resources to recognize and steer clear of counterfeit and smuggled items, thereby enhancing their overall safety and well-being. He proposed that FICCI CASCADE should conduct youth awareness programs in Jharkhand on a regular basis, with the aim of inspiring the State's youth to contribute actively towards our goal of eliminating illicit trade.
On the occasion Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishor Kaushal, emphasized the significance of awareness in eliminating the growing menace of illicit trade, which has a direct impact on our everyday lives. He highlighted the importance of prioritizing this issue and urged individuals to refrain from purchasing fake and smuggled items He stressed the need for consumers to insist on obtaining receipts when making purchases, as a proactive measure to protect them from deceitful market operators.
Advisor of FICCI CASCADE and Former Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, PC Jha expressed deep concern over the extensive implications of illicit trade in India. He emphasized that this issue is alarming as it not only results in substantial financial losses for the Government but also poses significant risks to the well-being and safety of the citizens. He emphasized the urgent need to prioritize and actively pursue robust awareness campaigns to effectively combat illicit trade.
Former Director General of RPF, NCRB, Civil Defence, Home Guard & Fire Services, and BPR and D, Rajiva Ranjan Verma highlighted the crucial significance of the youth in combating the rampant problems of smuggling and counterfeiting. The active involvement of the youth is essential in tackling the challenges posed by smuggling and counterfeiting, as they possess the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking needed to effectively address these issues and create an illicit trade-free society, he added.
The seminar discussed the importance of increased awareness on the hazards of counterfeiting and smuggling, and the need for effective enforcement to enhance India’s economic development. The seminar also deliberated on FICCI CASCADE’s recent report titled Illicit Markets: A Threat to Our National Interests, which examines the impact of illicit trade in five key industries in India — Mobile Phones, FMCG-Household and Personal Goods, FMCG-Packaged Foods, Tobacco Products, and Alcoholic Beverages.
FICCI CASCADE has recently released a report examining illicit market in 5 Key Indian industries, including mobile phones, FMCG-household and personal goods, FMCG-packaged foods, tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages. According to the report, the size of illicit market in the above-mentioned industries was ₹2,60,094 crore for the year 2019-20, with the FMCG industry — household and personal goods, and packaged foods — together accounting for 3/4th of the total illicit value of goods in five key industries.