Chandigarh, March 15, 2017:
To mark the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, the Department of Food &
Supplies and Consumer Affairs & Legal Metrology, U.T., Chandigarh in
collaboration with the Consumers Association, Chandigarh today organized a seminar
at U.T. Guest House, Chandigarh for the awareness of the consumers about their
rights, duties and references to the protection of the consumer interests
against any kind of exploitation by the trade and industry. Sh. V.P. Singh
Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T., Chandigarh was the chief
guest on this occasion.
Sh.
Parimal Rai, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Sh. Ajit
Balaji Joshi, IAS, Secretary Food & Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Sh. K.P.S
Mahi, PCS, Additional Director, Food & Supplies and Consumer Affairs, UT, Chandigarh,
members of Consumer Association, Chandigarh, Sh. Sarbjit Singh Pal Panesar,
President District Forum-I, Sh. Rajan Dewan, President, District Forum-II,
Advocate Madhu P. Singh, Ex-President District Forum, Mohali, Advocate Sh. Ajay
Jagga, Member District Consumer Protection Council Chandigarh, Sh. RK Kaplash,
Chairman Consumer Association, Chandigarh and other staff members were also
present during the occasion.
During
the course of the seminar, lectures on consumer awareness were delivered by the
representatives of the Consumer Association, Chandigarh. The representatives
expounded the importance of being aware about the rights of consumers. They
also addressed the gathering regarding food adulteration, legal provisions and
remedies available to the citizens aggrieved by food adulteration.
Speaking
during the occasion, Hon’ble Governor
of Punjab and Administrator, U.T., Sh. V.P. Singh Badnore said that, “This year’s theme for World Consumer Rights day is
“Consumer Rights in Digital Age”. The use of internet, mobile phones and other
digital technologies is spreading widely around the world. As consumers, we are a part of every transaction that
occurs on the planet. We are at the heart of many of the challenges and
opportunities faced by the world. The need of the time is to educate consumers
on various concerns relating to products and services involved in the use of
digital systems.
The
Governor also shared a famous quote by Mahatma
Gandhi, “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not
dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption of our
work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider of our business. He is
part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a
favour by giving us the opportunity to do so.”
He further added, “I feel happy to share that U.T., Chandigarh has established District Consumer Protection
Council in 2016 where a landmark decision of declaring “Chandigarh-city without service charges on eateries’ was taken. The decision has benefitted
each and every consumer of the city visiting hotels, restaurants and other
eating joints which used to fleece the customers by imposing illegal/unfair
service charge. He also shared that Chandigarh Administration has recently
launched Chandigarh Consumer Helpline at Sector 19 where consumers may file
complaints at toll free number 1800-180-2079 for guidance and speedy disposal
of their grievances.”
Sh.
R.K Kaplash, Chairman, Consumer Association, Chandigarh said that, “the zeal,
efforts, dedication and enthusiasm put up by the members of the forum for
public service is commendable. The Chandigarh Administration is ready to extend
its support to the forum.”
Sh.
Jagga praised the Chandigarh Administration for putting ban on levying of service
charge on food bills by Hotels & Restaurants and making Chandigarh the
first city in India to impose such ban on eateries.
Comments
Post a Comment