A dialogue conversation between two Indian Residents weighing the consequences of being a consumer.
Kartik : Hello Rahul. How are you doing?
Rahul : Hello Kartik, I am sorry but I am not in a happening mood this evening.
Kartik : Oh, I am so sorry. If there is any way I can be of help, maybe you could share it with me.
Rahul : I can not believe that we are living in a country where consumer plight is increasing. People are not aware about the things all they know is ‘jago grahak’.
I have seen people paying big companies for their paper shopping bags which is wrong as that company is just promoting its brand and they are charging it from the consumer only.
Kartik : But here in India, people are more aware about their consumer rights. Do you know as per the data available with the government, consumer complaints have increased by over 70% between 2014 and 2016. So see how people are using their rights for justice.
Rahul : But the general perception about consumer courts is that the cases drags on endlessly. This is the work spirit of our courts slow and pathetic so why would people waste their time in this stupid procedure?
Kartik : Seeking justice is not a waste of time my friend. More and more people are coming to consumer courts because of quick disposal of cases. Ever since the commission came into existence in 1988, about 31 lakh cases have been filed. Of these, 27 lakh have been settled. If you consider the National Commission alone, since October 2008,they have reduced the number of pending cases by around 2,000.
Yes, there are delays, but some reasons are outside our ambit. For instance, work is held up because an administrative appointment has not been made by the government. Then there’s the problem of infrastructure. So I think the government should work on the infrastructure.
Rahul : Oh, yes I think you are right people are not like “jago grahak they are more of jage hue grahak”
Kartik : I think you got my point! Well I would also like to tell you about the new consumer protection act 2019 in which 5 more rights are added which makes the consumer more powerful & It also saves their time by giving them the option to lodge the complaint from home.
Rahul- Oh great! India is really becoming Satark as a consumer.
Kartik : Also, remember a plight is a plight only till you don't fight.
Written by - Vanshika Walia
Edited by - Manpreet Walia
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