Kohima, November 11 (MExN): Nagaland University (NU) Department of Management, Kohima Campus conducted an interactive session on consumer rights and legal services authorities with Advocate Kezhokhoto Savi on November 9 at Kohima Campus, NU. Dr Ditalak Mpanme, Asst. Prof of Management Department (NU) moderated the interactive session. Savi was accompanied by Imlibenla, President, Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) and Yuwang Konyak, President NLSF where they highlighted the importance of ‘Food Safety’ in today’s market. They also shared and invited the management students to come and attend the forthcoming NLSF 8th Biennial General Conference especially the Panel of Discussion session on “Social Justice towards Economic Development” to be held on November 20 and 21 at Hotel Acacia, Dimapur. Savi highlighted the importance of consumer education and Legal Services Authorities commitment to protecting citizens’ rights. He also briefed the main aims which include to provide free legal aid and advice, spread legal awareness, organise Lok Adalats, promote settlement of disputes through Alternate Disputes Resolution(ADR) mechanism and provide compensation to victims of crime. Savi explained the Consumer Rights in detail as provided in the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 such as; Right to safety, Right to be informed, Right to choice, Right to be heard, Right to seek redressal and Right to consumer education. It is important to promote the basic rights of all consumers, to demand that these rights are respected and protected so as to protest against the market abuses and social injustices which undermine them. He appealed the management students to be a smart Consumer as the topic of Consumer Rights under the Consumer Protection Act 1986 is part of their study course and it would be become more important when they become Manager in corporate sector. The students passed out as an MBA from NU are not doing lesser that other MBAs from other most expensive institutes/universities. While interacting about the redressal part, Savi asked the management students to first call up Nagaland State Consumer which is an alternate mechanism before approaching either the District Consumer Disputes Redressel Forum or State Commission. Press & Media Cell, NVCO in a press release stated that students raised several issues such as ‘Goods once sold is not returnable’ which is not in consonance with the provision of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, some local packages product mentioned the date of packing in advance.
