Bhago Grahak Bhago - 01

1. Ritual

15^th March was celebrated as WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY.

We are daily bombarded by series of advertisements in TV/Newspaper to JAGO.

When Doordarshan was the only channel, in India, one TV serial RAJANI was run, where the activist so named fought for the rights of the consumer.

At that time, Consumer rights were a low key affair and after the show, anybody fighting for his/her rights as consumer was aptly named RAJANI, whether the occasion was of forming queues, asking for proper service, opening of counters on time at public utility centres etc.

Then came the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 [ COPRA ].  This law was made on the US pattern where, the law relating to torts and negligence is given preference and speedy justice is given. This was also one of the salient features of the Rajiv regime.

It is sad to note that still after 21 years, the desired results are yet to  reach the last consumer.

2. Sarkari approach

The sarkari [ Governmental ] apathy is difficult to understand. It is not governmental,

-                           because when a Government really acts, but things don’t move than it is GOVERNMENTAL APPROACH

-                           But when neither the government acts really, nor the things move really and mere impression is created it is SARKARI approach.

The foremost blunder that was made is giving the Food and Civil Supplies ministry the responsibility to monitor the enforcement of the Act. It is the ministry where law takes the back seat and speed money is the prime mover.

In most cases, the State Governments are lax in appointing and forming Consumer Courts at the District levels. If the Courts are formed than the vacancies are not filled up. If vacancies are filled up, proper infrastructures are not there.

In most cases, these Courts are headed by retired Judicial service officers, who had spent their life giving adjournments after adjournments – remember Sunny Deol screaming – TARIKH PAR TARIKH  in a Bollywood film. It is very true in Consumer courts – where cases are lingering from 6-7 years despite there being a definite time schedule in the Act.

Therefore, if one takes the courage to JAGO as asked by the series of advertisements in the TV and newspaper – he is most likely welcomed by BHAGO YAHAN SE BHAGO.

                                                                        … Continued