Consumer Voice :: 59th Independence Day

Independence Day

Consumer protection as a barometer of India’s democracy

As India enters 60th year of its independence, as markets offer heavy discount on products during this mini-holiday period, and as radio stations gear up to play patriotic songs on air, consumer-voice.org takes a rather different look at the 59 years behind us, and at what may lie before us, from the consumer’s point of view.

We do believe that how “FREE” a country is as much a function of consumer rights, as it is of free and fair elections. With a billion consumers, India is one of the biggest consumer markets in the world, but has consumer protection kept pace with the burgeoning markets? 60 years on, we are still grappling with the problem of pesticides in foods, worms in chocolates, investment frauds, and unwarranted credit card problems. For a consumer, life has only become tougher as services increase and as technology has made rapid strides. It is a treacherous path we have to walk, and every development warrants a serious debate by consumers, who must fight on many fronts to galvanise government action, to keep checks on the industry, to address environmental concerns, and to protect their own rights in the bargain.

India’s consumer courts are reeling under the pressure of consumer cases that wait for resolution, customer care helplines of almost all banks and telecom companies fall woefully short of consumer expectation. What recourse, or what ray of hope does a consumer have then as the Indian Prime Minister readies to hoist the tricolour on the Red Fort this Tuesday?

consumer-voice.org would love to hear from you on what you think are the three most pressing consumer issues this Independence Day. Send us your feedback at editor.online@consumer-voice.org

Wishing you a peaceful Independence Day!

Some landmarks of the consumer movement in India

1966: The first seeds of the consumer movement in India are sown as Consumer Guidance Society of India is formed to check food shortages and black marketing.

1969: The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission is set up under the MRTP Act of 1969.

1986: The Consumer Protection Act comes into force

1991: Indian Ecomark Scheme launched in India.

1991: Comparative Testing of products starts in India. In the US, the concept is already 45 years old.

1999: ISI mark on bottled water becomes Smandatory.

2001: Vegetarian/non-vegetarian labeling becomes mandatory on packaged food products in India

2002: Consumer Protection Act amended.