Majority of consumers are unaware of rights in Raj: Survey

MSN News, August 07, 2011

Bundi (Rajasthan) Aug 7 (PTI) A majority of consumers in Rajasthan are not aware of their rights as a consumer and have not availed the legal provisions for the protection of their interests, a survey has found.

The survey, carried out by Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS International) under its central government funded three year pilot project ”Grass Root Reach Out & Networking in Rajasthan Through Consumer Action (GRNIRCA)”, which is running in 12 district of Rajasthan, revealed that 64 per cent consumers are not aware of their rights and 58 per cent consumers do not know their duties as consumer.

At district level, 61 per cent of the consumers noted their ignorance about the Consumer Protection Committee, where as only 10 per cent of the consumers nodded to have filed complaints in District Consumer Forum but out of this small ratio of complainers, 58 per cent have shown dissatisfaction at the judgment of the Forum.

Over 2,300 consumers, majority of whom were educated, in 12 districts of the state participated in the survey.

The survey revealed that much propagated �Sudh Ke Liye Uddh Abhiyan (War against Adulteration Free Food Campaign) by the state government could not make mark upon people.

Half of the respondents termed it as failure 77 per cent consumers have never availed services of food-edible testing Mobile Laboratories being run by state government.

About 68 per cent of the respondents said they had not taken any legal measure even after having been exploited in the market.

Over half (52 per cent) of the respondents have admitted the status of consumers in bad state in Rajasthan.

Ghee, edible oil and flour were found to be most adulterated food items in the research survey.

Even in present scientific age, majority of respondents preferred to taste the quality of food by testing.

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