Today, India along with other countries will celebrate the 61st World Consumer Rights Day. The day is celebrated in order to protect the right of consumers and celebrate the fact that each consumer is protected by a set of laws which cannot be undermined or abused. The day was first marked by the Consumers International, an organization that has over 250 members across 120 countries, in April 1960.
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World Consumer Rights Day 2021: History and Significance
The idea to celebrate consumers across the world and remind them about the laws that they are protected with came from President John F Kennedy. In 1962, the US President sent a special message to the US Congress in which he said, “Consumers by definition include us all. They are the largest economic group, affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision. Yet they are the only important group… whose views are often not heard.”
President Kennedy was the first major leader in the world to acknowledge the importance of consumers across the world. His message stirred the people across the world, including a consumer rights activist Anwar Fazal who worked for the Consumers International organization. In 1983, Anwar proposed that on 15th March, the day when President Kennedy put consumers at the front and center of all market activities, the World Consumer Rights Day should be observed. Since then, the day has been used as a remembrance to promote basic consumers rights.
World Consumer Rights Day 2021: Theme
The theme for this year’s World Consumer Rights Day is: Tackle Plastic Pollution.
This World Consumer Rights Day (15 March 2021), consumers will join together to Tackle Plastic Pollution.
Helena Leurent, Director General of Consumer International issued a statement saying, “Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet. Consumer awareness of the plastics crisis is growing around the world. Consumers have a critical role in shaping the marketplace, and we must support them to mobilise businesses and governments, to ensure sustainable consumption is accessible to all.”
The Consumer International’s website goes in detail about this year’s theme and writes how the world is currently facing a massive plastic pollution crisis. It also goes on to cite a report called breaking the Plastic Wave by the Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ which concluded that if the situation is not taken head on, by 2040, the plastic materials that us dumped into the ocean will be tripled.
The Consumer International will mark the 2021’s Consumer Rights Day by sharing the 7Rs Model it came up with to tackle the grave situation of plastic pollution. The 7 Rs of the Waste Management include:
Replace: Replace the single-use plastic items with reusable products.
Rethink: Rethink buying packaged goods.
Refuse: Refuse disposable cups and cutleries; carry your own mugs and utensils.
Reduce: Reduce your carbon footprint by using reusable products.
Reuse: Repurpose a plastic item and extend its lifetime.
Recycle: Seek and create better access to waste infrastructure and collection.
Repair: Repair broken and damaged items to limit waste.
The organization will also demonstrate multiple ways it has come up with in combating the plastic pollution issue.
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Consumer rights in India
India’s consumer rights movement started in 1966 in Maharashtra with the first Grahak Panchayat (consumer panchayat) established in Pune in 1974. After the creation of the Grahak Panchayat several other institutions with the similar agenda of protecting the right of consumers and promote awareness were established in other states. The pivotal moment came when in December 1986; the Indian Parliament passed the Consumer Protection Act to empower Indian consumers. The act laid out basic rights that each Indian consumer is protected with, along with laying down protocols on the topics of consumer’s grievances and such.
The Consumer Protection Act gives Indian consumers the following rights:
1) The right to be protected against false marketing of services and goods that may be hazardous to life and property.
2) The right to be protected against unfair trade practices and to be informed about the quality, quantity, purity and standards of goods and services.
3) The right to be heard at appropriate forums.
4) The right to seek redressal against grievances and unfair trade practices.
5) The right to get access to get goods and services at competitive prices.
6) The right to consumer education.
