Mechanisms and policies have to be in place for sending out correct signals to producers and manufacturers. Redress systems have to exist and to function optimally for providing grievance redress. Court decisions need to send out signals to erring parties and function as deterrents to any adventurism in buying and selling processes, as well as to policy makers. This year's theme for the International Consumer Rights Day is the right to representation. The Booker Prize winner author, Arundhati Roy's criticism against the Supreme Court of India's judgement on the Narmada Dam truly endorses the citizens right to representation on important national issues affecting millions of citizens. The subsequent imprisonment order, and the token fine imposed on the author, raise several questions around the democratic processes of representation. Arundhati Roy has said, "I insist on the right to comment on the court and disagree with it", and we endosre her viewpoint.

'The consumer has also to be supported by consumer education, which is a parallel and an ongoing process, now starting in schools at the primary level, and going right up to University level and beyond. Organisations such as VOICE are trying to provide information to consumers on a vast variety of issues, and generally working to raise consumer awareness about rights and responsibilities. One of the means by which information is made available to consumers is through consumer magazines, such as our very own 'Consumer Voice'. There is a paucity of such fora, which provide standard, authentic, environmentally responsible, and ethically sound information to the consumer, beyond and behind the hype generated by market tools like advertisements and advertorials. A magazine like 'Consumer Voice' is reaching out to consumers by following a code of conduct which is internationally operative for consumer magazines. No advertisements are accepted from the market. Comparative tests which are conducted in a carefully structured, internationally accepted and approved format, are aimed at helping the consumer make Informed choices from amongst a flood of a wide variety of goods.

In a market where almost everything sells, including toxic, hazardous and dangerous products, the fate of a consumer magazine, aiming solely to protect consumer interest, is puzzlingly downmarket. Is it because these magazines try to take on the market itself? The market which has made buying and selling such an art, and which leaves no stone unturned to capture consumer attention, interest and money? It unabashedly works for profit, putting at risk consumer health and safety while consumer magazines, which have to float on subscriber/consumer support are constantly threatened with extinction. We, at VOICE think this is because most consumers are unaware of the availability of such help and support.

We invite our subscribers to provide insights into how we can bring them what they need and want. We have recently undertaken an extensive exercise to assess and review our subscriber preferences and piques which we will be sharing with them in the near future.VOICE team is constantly introspecting and devising ways and means to ensure that our subscribers feel involved and are constantly kept updated about our work, which we undertake on their behalf.

Our test story of the ubiquitous mustard oil, this month, is singularly devoid of all sensational scoops. It has actually proved to be an exercise in restoring consumer confidence in one of India 's iconic products, which stretches its reach from grassroots to the gods. We re-examine the conspiracies, which were hinted at, or hatched for wiping out a product of daily use, as old as the Indian civilization itself. Its mustard flowers, stretching across the collective unconscious of our national mindscape were said to be hiding the poison of a killer weed called 'argemone'. A deadly disease called 'Dropsy' claimed several victims in a sudden swoop some years ago. We sift the issue to separate reality from rumour and hope that we can all go back to the multiple uses of mustard oil, free of all anxiety about its safety.

The wedding season is upon us and we bring you information on various aspects of this very important event in every consumer household. We also bring you a new service from VOICE by providing a 'Helpline' to our subscribers. Our first initiative in this direction is our 'Food Helpttne' developed by our Food Expert, Dr Madhu Saxena. We will appreciate feedback from our readers. We hope to continue to widen our range of helplines in the future. This service will also be available to you on our website.

We look forward to your reactions.