GANDERBAL: In order to educate consumers about their rights and responsibilities, with a focus on consumer frauds and the objectives of the Consumer Protection Act, an event was today organized to commemorate ‘National Consumer Day’ at Town Hall, Ganderbal. The event was organized by District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Ganderbal, in collaboration with Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department Ganderbal under the supervision of Abdul Nasir, Chairman, DLSA Ganderbal, and the guidance Sheikh Babar Hussain, Secretary, DLSA Ganderbal.
During the event, Assistant Director FCS&CA Ganderbal highlighted the importance of National Consumer Day. He emphasised the need for consumers to be aware of their responsibilities, particularly in cases of misbranding, copying, or cheating. He stressed that well-informed consumers can effectively exercise their rights and seek compensation when necessary. He urged the public to spread awareness about consumer rights among neighbors, relatives, and friends.
He reminded consumers that their rights are meaningless unless they are exercised, emphasizing the importance of seeking redressal when needed. Assistant LADC Ganderbal, highlighted the key aspects of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. He emphasized that consumers have the right to safety and can seek recourse in case of online purchase fraud by filing a complaint with the consumer protection forum. He also stressed the importance of reporting misleading advertisements, which is a crucial provision under the Act.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, aims to protect consumers from unfair trade practices, including false or misleading advertisements. He said consumers have the right to be protected against hazardous goods and services, right to information about goods and services, including quantity, quality, purity, potency, price and standard, to seek redressal for grievances, including online purchase fraud and misleading advertisements, etc.
While as Panel Lawyer, DLSA Ganderbal, emphasized the importance of the Consumer Protection Act, which protects the rights of every individual. She highlighted the rules and provisions including e-Commerce Rules, Product Liability Rules, Service Provider Rules, Misleading Advertisement Rules, Non-leading Dispute Resolution, Consumer Grievance Rules, etc. She informed that consumers can now file disputes through the e-portal, making it easier and more convenient to seek redressal.
This digital platform aims to streamline the dispute resolution process, reducing time and effort for consumers. She also encouraged consumers to be aware of their rights and to seek redressal when necessary. The event was also attended by the Officials of DLSA Ganderbal, CA&PD Department, Ganderbal, PLVs of DLSA/TLSC Ganderbal, General public, consumers, etc. The event was a significant step towards empowering consumers in Ganderbal and promoting awareness about their rights and responsibilities.
