All of us are consumers in one way or the other and thus we are the largest voting block with the least amount of power exercised. We allow ourselves to be taken for a ride irrespective of whether we are educated or not. Why? Despite being the largest group, consumer is unaware of her importance in the economy. Most of us are like those in Tenali Ramas story that since others will put milk, they can manage by pouring water. In todays world such free loading attitude does not work.
Today consumer is the most victimized person in our society today. Apart from being a most contemptible act of cheating the consumer public, who are unwillingly made to pay more for low quality goods, adulteration of food stuffs can easily cause serious and irreparable damage to the health of the consumers. Adulteration of food stuffs, and supply of spurious drugs are the worst crimes against society. It is a matter of great regret that consumer movement in India is still non existent even after celebrations of world and national consumer days every year. They have just become rituals.
There is nothing wrong in earning legitimate profits. Profits become obscene only when they are earned illegally. According to some reports short supply in weight and measures amount to 5 to 20%,. This is one way of short changing the consumer. Food adulteration is more than 30% and this has been demonstrated year after year for Mysore by MGP through its annual testing of food samples. Although there are consumer protective legislation such as sale of Goods Act, Drug Control Act, PFA Act, FPO Act, etc, they are not of much help. The machinery of enforcement is not only inadequate but corrupt. In addition there is also the much dreaded red tape and inordinate delay in the quick disposal of complaints of consumers not only in civil courts, but also in consumer courts.
Quality goods move slowly while shoddy, sub standard products enjoy brisk sales. This is mostly because of the apathy and collosal ignorance of the Indian consumers vis-a-vis organized trade and inefficient and corrupt bureaucracy. Advertising has been often criticized for creating false needs. In these days of plethora of advertising and mass media, how many people can remain unaffected by the false values created by false advertising? Whatever rules and regulations the state can make for manufacturers and consumers, unless the principle of honesty is practiced by both the sides, no amount of rules and regulations can help.
The technological progress has brought in a new crop of problems. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers, irradiation of food for presentation, use of pesticides, washing detergents, sophisticated pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, to name but a few have done a good deal of harm to the consumer.
Consumer organizations should form an united front to boycott shops indulging in food adulteration. They should educate consumers on their rights, responsibilities and also how powerful they are if peaceful protests are organized in a united way.
No matter how much legislation we get passed in the parliament, government alone cannot protect consumers unless we the consumers join in large numbers irrespective of status so that a massive front can be built to protect the consumer against unscrupulous and sharp practices.
C. V. Nagaraj, Mysore Grahakara Parishat