3 Answers
The number of consumer groups and their activities has increased. Currently about 700 consumer groups work in the country but only 20-25 groups have been recognized by the government. The existing laws are not effective as far as compensation for defective products goes. The redressal process is still expensive and time-consuming.
Even after more than 25 years of enactment of Consumer Protection Act (COPRA), a large section of consumers are unaware of their rights. Often rules and regulations applicable to marketplace are not followed. It is necessary that people should be made aware of their rights and role. Only then the consumer movement can be effective.
The consumer movement in India has made some progress in terms of numbers of organised groups and their activities. There are today more than 700 consumer groups in the country of which, unfortunately only about 20-25 are well organised and recognised for their work. However, the consumer redressal process is becoming cumbersome, expensive and time consuming because many a time, consumers are required to engage lawyers. These cases require time for filing and attending the court proceedings etc. In most purchases cash memos are not issued hence evidence is not easy to gather. Moreover most purchases in the market are small retail sales. The existing laws are also not very clear on the issue of compensation to consumers injured by defective products. Filing cases, attending court proceedings, hiring lawyers, and other procedures make it cumbersome.
The progress of consumer movement in India:
(i) In India, the consumer movement as a ‘social force’ originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices.
(ii) Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organised form in the 1960s.
(iii) Till the 1970s, consumer organisations were largely engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed consumer groups to look into the malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in the road passenger transport.
(iv) Because of all these efforts, the movement succeeded in bringing pressure on business firms as well as government to correct business conduct which may be unfair and against the interests of consumers at large.
(v) A major step taken in 1986 by the Indian government was the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986, popularly known as COPRA.