Dignitaries with others during a consumer awareness programme at KROS College, Kohima on September 16. (Morung Photo)
Consumers urged to stay alert to digital fraud, unfair trade practices
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 16
The Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection (LMCP), Kohima, in collaboration with the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) and the Department of Economics & Political Science, KROS College, Kohima, today organised a consumer awareness programme on the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumer” at Kevi Hall, KROS College, Kohima.
In his address, Neiko Akami, Member Secretary, NSLSA, informed that the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (No. 35 of 2029) came into force with the objective of providing protection to the interests of consumers, establishing authorities for the timely and effective administration and settlement of consumer disputes, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
It aims to protect consumers from unfair trade practices, defective goods, deficient services and other exploitative practices.
The Act established a three-tier redressal system to help consumers resolve disputes.
He said a consumer has the right to choose, the right to safety, the right to be heard, the right to be informed about the quality, potency, purity, standards and prices of goods and services, the right to seek redressal, the right to consumer education, and rights that are basic to all human beings.
He informed that consumers can file complaints against unfair or restrictive trade practices adopted by any trader or service provider.
Consumers can also file complaints against goods purchased by them that suffer from one or more defects; services hired or availed of that suffer from deficiencies; costs charged for goods or services that exceed the stated prices; hazardous services that cause injury to life or safety; and misleading advertisements in the digital realm.
‘Beware of fake websites, fraudulent calls’
In his keynote address, Shiloh Kath, Joint Controller, Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection, said that the department acts as a pro-consumer agency, protecting consumers’ rights and safety, fair trade practices, accuracy in weights and measures, and protection from false and misleading advertisements, among others.
He said that through legal metrology laws such as the Act, 2009 and Rules, 2011 (2006 Jan Vishwa Amendment Rules), the department inspects, verifies and stamps all weights and measures so that consumers remain protected.
“We also implement Package Commodities Rules, 2011, which require mandatory declarations of all aspects such as weight, volume, number and addresses of manufacturers, importers, packers, MRP, etc.,” Kath said.
Talking about the modern era of “Click and Buttons,” where the global market is at our doorstep, he said, “Life is made too easy for those who have money to spend, that, if we are not careful, we will face many unwanted situations and losses.”
The Joint Controller told the students to beware of fake websites, fraudulent calls and messages, misleading online services, counterfeit products, manipulated images and videos, and various forms of digital fraud.
Shiekhozo, Assistant Controller (HQ), Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection, said that the department has been conducting a series of consumer awareness programmes in various educational institutions to help students know their rights.
“When you know your rights, then the service providers and the manufacturing units cannot cheat you and they will give you good service and products,” he said.
He called upon the students to be smart consumers and approach the department whenever they come across any sort of unfair trade practice or defective system for grievance redressal.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Vizongono Victoria Rote, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, KROS College, while the welcome address was delivered by Dr Emilo Ovung, Principal, KROS College. Tingten of the Department of Economics presented a special number.
