Explain the rights and responsibilities of a consumer.

The Consumer Protection Act enlists six rights for a consumer. The following are the rights of a consumer.

(a) Right to Safety: Every consumer has the right to be safeguarded against those goods and services that are hazardous to life, health and property. For example, manufacturing defects in electrical appliances, cooking gas cylinders can be injurious. The consumer has the right to be protected against such products.

(b) Right to be Informed: According to this, the consumer has the right to be informed of the quality, quantity, price, ingredients, weight, etc. of the goods and services. In India, it is legally mandatory for the manufactures to provide all such information on the package and the label of the goods. This enables the consumer to make a wise choice.

(c) Right to Choose: A consumer has the right to choose from a variety of goods and services at competitive prices as per his wishes. That is, the consumer has the right to have access to a variety of products at fair and competitive price. Thus, the retailer or the supplier should offer a variety of products in terms of quality, brand, price, etc. They should not induce the consumers towards the purchase of a particular product or service.

(d) Right to be Heard: In case of any grievance or dissatisfaction, a consumer has the right to file a complaint. A consumer can file a legal complaint and seek redressal against any form of exploitation in appropriate forums established by the government. Nowadays, many consumer organisations and associations also work in this direction.

(e) Right to Seek Redressal: A consumer has the right to seek redressal and compensation in case of any exploitation. The Consumer Protection Act provides for compensation in the form of replacement of product, cash compensation, repair/removal of defects, etc.

(f) Right to Consumer Education: A consumer has the right to be educated and aware of his rights and the available remedies in case of exploitation. Many government and non-government organisation work actively in this regard.

In addition to the rights, a consumer has some responsibilities to safeguard himself from exploitation. The following are some of the responsibilities of a consumer.

(i) Awareness: A consumer should be well aware of the availability of various goods and services. This enables him to make an informed and wise choice.

(ii) Looking for Quality Marks: A consumer must always look for the quality certification marks before the purchase of goods such as ISI in case of electrical goods, AGMARK in case of agricultural goods, etc.

(iii) Asking for Cash Memo: A consumer should always ask for cash memo or bills for the goods and services purchased. The bill acts a proof of purchase and can be used for future references in case of a complaint.

(iv) Reading Labels: Labels on goods provide information regarding price, weight, expiry date of the product. The consumer must read these labels carefully before purchasing the goods.

(v) Honest Transactions: A consumer must always choose legal dealings and discourage illegal trade practices such as black marketing and hoarding.

(vi) Ensure Safety: A consumer must carefully read the manuals and instructions provided by the manufacturer so as to ensure safe use of the product. For example, instructions provided on the electrical appliances must be carefully read before using them.

(vii) Filing Complaint: In case the product is found defective or any deficiency is found in the quality of the product, a complaint must be filed in the appropriate forum.

(viii) Consumer Societies: Consumer organisations and societies such as consumer Coordination Council, Common Cause, Karnataka Consumer Service Society, etc. must be formed to work towards consumer education and awareness.

(ix) Environment Protection: The consumers must also work towards environment protection by avoiding wastes, pollution control, etc.

(i) Right to safety: Consumers have the right to be protected against the marketing of products and services which are dangerous and hazardous to their health etc. 

(ii) Right to be informed: Consumers have the right to be informed about the various intricacies of the business and the organizational product which they deal upon. 

(iii) Right to choose: Every consumer has the right to choose the producr5t a cat competitive prices which are fair and reasonable. 

(iv) Right to be heard: Every consumer has the right to be heard by the manufacturers, distributors, traders, the government and the local bodies. 

Responsibilities of a Consumer: 

(i) Knowledge about available goods and services 

(ii) Purchase of Standardized Products 

(iii) Use of Product as per instructions 

(iv) Check information on Label.

The Consumer Protection Act provides six rights to consumers. They are as follows

a. Right to Safety: The consumer has a right to be protected against goods and services which are hazardous to life, e.g., sometimes we purchased the food items of a low quality which causes severe problems. Thus, in this case, we should purchase good quality and FPO labeled products,

b. Right to be Informed: The consumer has a right to have complete information about the product, which he intends to buy including its ingredients, date of manufacture, price, quantity, directions for use etc. Under the legal framework of India manufactures have to provide such information on the package and label of the product.

c. Right to Choose: The consumer has the freedom to choose from a variety of products. The marketers should offer a wide variety of products and allow the consumer to make a choice and choose the product which is most suitable.

d. Right to be Heard: The consumer has a right to file a complaint and to be heard in case of dissatisfaction with a good or service. It is because of this reason that many enlightened business firms have set up their own consumer service and grievance cells.

e. Right to Seek Redressal: The Consumer Protection Act provides a number of product, of reliefs to the removal of defect consumers including replacement of the in the product, compensation paid for any loss or injury suffered by the consumer etc.

f. Right to Consumer Education: The consumer has a right to acquire knowledge about products. He should be aware of his rights and the reliefs available to him in case of a product service falling short of his expectations Many consumer organizations and some enlightened businesses are taking an active part in educating consumers in this respect.

Consumer Responsibilities: 

A consumer must be aware of these responsibilities while purchasing, using and consuming goods and services.

a. Consumer must be aware of all their rights. 

b. Consumer must be careful while purchasing a product. 

c. He should file a complaint for the redressal of genuine grievances. 

d. Consumer must buy a standardized good. 

e. He should ask for a cash-memo on the purchase of goods and services.