Consumer Awareness Essay

THE operate of development a eagle-eyed with the expanding globalisation and liberalisation touch on has increased the topic of consumer related to issues. Consumer harborion has earned an outstanding place in the political, stinting and tender agendas of m both nations. In India, the government has taken many an(prenominal) locomote including legislative, to shelter consumers. Education is a life long process of endlessly acquiring relevant info, knowledge and skills. Consumer reading is an master(prenominal) part of this process and is a basic consumer right that mustiness be introduced at the take aim level. Consumers by definition include all citizens who argon, by and large the biggest group, who be affected by almost all government, public or offstage decisions. The most important step in consumer procreation is sensory faculty of consumer rights. However, consumer education is incomplete without the responsibilities and duties of consumers, and this influ ences individual conduct to a great extent.DefinitionConsumer sureness is making the consumer aw ar of His/Her rights. Consumer sentiency it a marketing term. It means that consumers line of crops or be awargon of products or function, its char answereristics and the other marketing Ps (place to buy, hurt, and promotion).Need we need it so we will non be misled by manufacturers,it ex rank(a)s if what we buy is worth to our money..and not harmful to us and to surround . Many people atomic number 18 ignorant of their rights to force protected against the development by so many others. So when in that respect is a meeting place for such redress of grievances there seems to be no such growing by many and be happens a r be one. So in array to derive a clean up picture of the level of exploitation of consumers, the aw atomic number 18ness is required.Role of producersproper labeling, mount schooling, easilyness warnings, handling schooling, expiration date, etc. ke ep to requirements, norms, standards labelproducts according requirements, providing align factsIf they atomic number 18 providing a service they should play it out with due skill andcare. They must also make accredited that any materials they can as part of this service are garb for the purpose. It is also il effective for a supplier to cut off, or scupper to cut off, provide to a reseller (wholesale or sell) be go they defend been discounting rock-steadys or publicize discounts below equipment casualtys set by the supplier. Consumer awareness is to the highest degree making the consumer aware of his/her rights.It is a marketing term which means that consumers are aware of products or services, its characteristics and the other marketing Ps (place to buy, legal injury, and promotion).Though the first consumer movement began in England after the Second World War, a modern declaration round consumers rights was first made in the United States of America in 1962, where four basic consumer rights (choice, information, safety and to be heard ) were recognized. Ralph Nadar, a consumer activist, is considered as the father of consumer movement.March 15 is now celebrated as the World Consumer Rights Day. The United Nations in 1985 adopted, , certain guidelines to achieve the objectives of maintaining protection for consumers and to apply high level ethical conduct for those engaged in fruit and distribution of wides and services. High prices, duplicate articles, underweight and under measurements, rough behavior, idle conditions, artificial scarcity are some of the ways by which consumers are exploited by manufacturers and traders. Limited information, limited supplies and low literacy are factors create exploitation of consumers. In India, the concept of consumer protection is not new. References to the protection of consumers interest against exploitation by trade and industry, underweight and measurement, adulteration and penalization for th ese offences, were made in Kautilyas Arthashastra.However, an organized and formatic movement to defense the interest of consumers, is a recent phenomenon. The consumers have to be aware not only of the commercial aspects of sale and purchase of goods, but also of the wellness and security aspects. Food safety has become an important element of consumer awareness these days. In wooing of pabulum products, its quality depends not only on its nutritional value, but also on its safety for human intake. outgo of contaminated or adulterated food is a major cause of human illness and suffering. This called for strong legal measures to ensure that the manufacturers and sellers observe consistency and transparency in prices, stocks and quality of their goods.Enactment of Consumer Protection profess, 1986 was one of the mostimportant steps taken to protect the interests of consumers.The provision of the Act came into force, with effect from July 1, 1987. The act recognizes consumers right to examine redresses and right to consumer education. The salient features of the Act are as follows- Applies to all goods and services unless specifically exempted by the Union Government Covers all the sectors whether private, public or cooperative Enshrines the consumers rights related to safety, information, choice, original and redress and consumer education. The act gives consumers an additional remedy besides those which may be available to them under the provisions of other existing laws and they are easy to choose the remedy. Empower consumers seeking discontinuance of certain unfair and restrictive trade practices, defects or deficiencies in services and stopping in services or withdrawal of hazardous goods from the market. There are no legal formalities for filing the complaint. Suppose, you find yourself cheated by trader or a manufacturer and wish to make a complaint to consumer court, you can create verbally the details on a plain paper. Attach the suppo rting documents, that is, warranty or warrantee card and cash memo with the complaint and call down it in the district consumer court. You do not have to go to any lawyer or professional for legal assistance. You yourself can plead the case in the consumer court.Since, the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act and even before that, newspapers and magazines have been responding to the needs of consumers.Apart from publishing articles, columns etc newspapers have also tried to come to the rescue of harassed consumers. The Indian Express was one of the first newspapers to break through a consumer complaint column. There are 500 consumer associations, which are works in the field of consumer protection. They deal with various aspects of consumer exploitation. virtually of the prominent ones are Consumer Guidance Society of India, Mumbai Citizens Action group, Mumbai Common Cause, New Delhi Voice, New Delhi Consumer returns and Trust Society, Jaipur. So next time you find yoursel f at the ruin end of a purchase dont just set back and blame, go to a consumer court and make your claim.CONSUMER AWARENESSTHE dish of development along with the expanding globalization andliberalization process has increased the number of consumer relatedissues. Consumer protection has earned an important place in the political, economic and social agendas of many nations. In India, the Government has taken many steps including legislative, to protect consumers.However, this is largely unknown to many citizens irrespective of whether they areeducated or uneducated. With an enormous state along with high levels of poverty,unemployment and paltry literacy levels, consumer awareness continues to remain low.Education is a life long process of eternally acquiring relevant information, knowledgeand skills. Consumer education is an important part of this process and is a basicconsumer right that must be introduced at the school level. Consumers by definitioninclude all citizens who are, by and large the biggest group, who are affected by almostall government, public or private decisions. The most important step in consumer education is awareness of consumer rights. However, consumer education is incompletewithout the responsibilities and duties of consumers, and this influences individual behaviour to a great extent. With the increasing changes in economic conditions, thechildren especially are becoming young consumers at an early age. Children must learn toobtain information intimately goods and services, understand the psychology of selling andadvertising, learn to shop sagely and distinguish between wants and needs.They mustalso understand the alternatives of conserving and saving rather than buying andconsuming.Children are spending more of their leisure time watching television at the cost of other pursuits such as reading or sports. With the institution of a number of specialisedsatellite channels, television enjoys a large viewership base consisting of children.Exposure to the market place as young shoppers has made most children aware of thedifferent kinds of products that are available. Advertisements are no doubt an importantsource of information as they help to inform consumers approximately the avail mogul of different products before making their choice. A majority of the advertisements are aimed at youngchildren today, especially those covering food products, beverages and cosmetics(especially toothpaste/fairness creams). Advertising influences the food preferences andeating habits of children to a large extent.Unfortunately, many advertisements make false promises, are super exaggerated andgive incomplete descriptions of products.The media, schools and parents along withconsumer groups need to help children develop the readiness to understandthe purpose of advertising. There is so much more information available to children that they must perceive the importance of distinguishing between different sources of informa tion.The consumption patterns are changing fast and children today are very clear on their choices regarding food, clothing, cosmetics or vexories. Parents are increasingly permitting their children to take decisions when shopping. It then becomes veryimportant for children to interpret details (for example, labels) before buying products Children can be taught to shop sagely and a few simple precautions will ensure that theychoose the right product at the right price. It is but natural that parents wish the best for their children, and strive hard to fulfil their demands.But this is not always a good ideaas it affects both the parents and children in a negative way in the long run.Consumer education also involves environmental education as it deals with theimportance of conserving (natural resources) and sustaining (recycling and reusing) theenvironment, including the direct health effects of environmental pollution and toxic products on consumers.Schools must structured consu mer education into school curricula as it is important toimpart the practical skills and critical ability needed to cope with social and economicchanges.Anyone who consumes goods is a consumer. Consumers get exploited in the market.They respond to advertisements and buy goods. Generally advertisements do not give allthe information that a consumer needs t know or wants to know about a product.DefinitionConsumer awareness is making the consumer aware of His/Her rights.Consumer awareness it a marketing term. It means that consumers note or are aware of products or services, its characteristics and the other marketing Ps (place to buy, price,and promotion).Usually commercials and ads increase consumer awareness, as well as word of mouth(a comment from someone you know about a product or service).1 Need we need it so we will not be misled by producers,it explains if what we buy is worth toour money..and not harmful to us and to environment .Many people are ignorant of their rights to ge t protected against the exploitation by somany others. So when there is a fabrication for such redress of grievances there seems to beno such exploitation by many and becomes a rare one. So in orderto get a clear pictureof the level of exploitation of consumers, the awareness is required.2. Role of producersproper labeling, all-inclusive information, health warnings, handling information, expiration date,etc. keep to requirements, norms, standards label products according requirements, providing true facts They have to produce and deliver the goods/services of right qualityat right price at right time at right place at right quantity with right faceIf they are providing a service they should declare it out with due skill and care. They mustalso make sure that any materials they provide as part of this service are fit for the purpose. It is also black-market for a supplier to cut off, or threaten to cut off, supply to areseller (wholesale or retail) because they have been discoun ting goods or advertisingdiscounts below prices set by the supplier. Some of the common methods of exploitation are1.Under weight and under measurements not measured or weighed correctly2.Substandard Quality defective home appliances and medicines beyond expirydate3.High pricescharging above the retail price4.Duplicate Articlesselling fake items in the name of the original5.Adulteration and Impurityis done to get higher profits6.Lack of safety Devicesabsence of inbuilt safe guards in appliances7.Artificial scarcenesshoarding and black marketing8.False and Incomplete Informationmisleading information on quality, durability,and safety.9.Unsatisfactory after sales Servicehigh cost items like electronics and carsrequire constant and regular service.10.Rough behavior and Undue conditionsharassment in getting LPG linkup or a telephone connection..Factors causing exploitation of Consumers.1.Limited Informationproviding full and correct information will help in thechoice2.Limited Supplie swhen goods and services are in short supply then price shootsup3.Limited Competition.single producer may manipulate the market in terms of price and stocks.4.Low Literacy.analphabetism leads to exploitation.Hence Consumer Awareness isessentialRise of consumer AwarenessKautilya was one of the earliest to write in his Arthashastra about the need for Consumer awareness and protection. With the growth of private sector there is a greater need for discipline and regulation of the market. Consumers must be aware of the sale and purchase of goods, the health and security aspects also. Ensuring the safety of food itemssold in the market is essential these days.Legal measures for consumer safety and consumer awareness must be uniform, andtransparent in terms of prices, quality of goods, and stocks. Consumers must have thetools to combat malpractices and protect their rights.Rights and Duties of ConsumersAs codified under the Indian Laws the Consumers have the following Rights1.Right to gua rdto protect against hazardous goods2.Right to be Informedabout price, quality, purity3.Right to Chooseaccess to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices.4.Right to be perceiveconsumers interest and welfare must be taken care of 5.Right to seek Redressalprotection against unfair trade practicesand settlinggenuine grievances.6.Right to Consumer Education.Kowledge about goods and issues related toconsumers.Duties1.Get a shoot down for every important purchase and also the Warranty card2.Check the ISI mark or Agmark on the goods3.Form consumer awareness groups4.Make a complaint on genuine grievances.5.Consumers must know to exercise their rights.Consumer protection Measure1. Legislation concerning Consumer Rights.The Consumer Protection Act 1986 provides for consumer disputes redressal at the stateand national level. With the help of this law the agencies can solve grievances in aspeedy, simple and inexpensive manner. A separate department of consumer affairs wasset up a t the state and central government. A three tier system of consumer courts at the National, State and District levels were set up. These agencies have done good work byhandling lakhs of cases.2. Public Distribution System.To protect the poor from price rise and black marketing the government foodsecurity tothe poor by supplying essentials through the ration or Fair price shops.3. Standardisation of Products.These are done to assure the quality of products. The ISI stamp on goods is placed by theBureau of Indian standards. This caters to industrial and consumer goods. These goodscan be trusted to nourish to specific standards. Agmark is meant for Agricultural products.At the International level the International Organization for normalisation (ISO) locatedin Geneva sets common standards. The FAO and WHO provide food standards.4.Legal formalities for filing a complaint.The complaint can be written on plain paper. The supporting documents like the warrantycard must be attached. A law yer is not required. We can argue our case