Consumer Protection - Problems And Prospects

Abstract

The Consumer Protection Act 1986 portrays a buyer as one who buys any thing chooses any contacts or less paid and generally ensured or under any method of yielded separate transparently from conveyance we overall changes into a customer at any rate people simply consider the rights and obligations they have as the client. The dynamic utilization of the consumer protection act began since 1990. Huge number of clients and association started efficient toward consumer check act trades for diagram of objections. Act suits endowment of consumer chamber to set up the general open and improvement of specialists the sale of buyer questions. Consumer care is moving in the country examinations are changing laws are getting sustained and customers are achievement powerfully referencing. So it is fundamental as respects strong specialists to had reestablished and palatable learning and care about consumer protection act 1986 to give more desirable family members and hang tight for consumer looks at. Key words: Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, Consumer Responsibilities. consumer problem, Price variation, Substandard weights&measuresI.

Introduction

In the globalization, movement and privatization time, most of the money related decisions are taken by the market. Regardless of the way that the society has pulled back itself from various money related works out, it intrudes constantly when the market part bombs due to vital rigidities in the economy and various factors, to give product and endeavors to the individuals. Utilization is one of the critical money related activities, which requires normal government arbitration, as the market is unfit to propel security and welfare parts of the clients. Ralph Nadar, a buyer radical is considered as the father of 'Shopper Movement'. Fifteenth March is presently celebrated as the World Consumer Rights Day.

Review of Literature

Indira Nair,(2012) found The efficient and effective programs of consumer protection are of special significance to all of us because we all are consumers. Even a manufacturer or provider of service is a consumer of some other goods or services. If both the producers/providers and consumers realize the need of coexistence, adulterated products and spurious goods and other deficiencies in the services would become s thing of past. The active involvement and participation from all quarters i. e. the Central and State Governments, the educational institutions, the NGO‟s, the print and electronic media and the adoption and observance of a voluntary code of conduct by the trade and industry and the citizen‟s charter by the service providers are necessary to see that the consumers get their due. The need of the hour is for total commitment to the consumer cause and social responsiveness to consumer needs. Reeta Arora& Asha Chawla,(2014) found thatThe consumer is the real deciding factor for all economic activities. An enlightened consumer is an empowered consumer. An aware consumer not only protects himself from exploitation, but induces efficiency, transparency and accountability in the entire manufacturing and service sector. With the increasing changes in economic conditions, the teenagers, especially, are becoming young consumers at an early age. Teenagers can be taught to shop wisely and a few simple precautions will ensure that they choose the right product at the right price. It is but natural that parents wish the best for their children, and strive hard to fulfill their demands. To sum up it can be said that there is a great need of making the teenagers aware about their rights. In general, they are ignorant about their rights. The Government should make sufficient attempts to educate the consumers especially teenagers. They must be educated through awareness programs like seminars, workshops, etc. P. Uma Maheswari Devi& B. Sankara Rao,(2016) The study was conducted to understand the level of consumer awareness among both educated and uneducated consumers. It was found from the survey that majority of the Consumers both educated and uneducated do not have knowledge of their consumer rights, Laws and provisions. They have very little confidence in the government and negative opinion about the existing measures. The study identified three critical factors of consumer protection namely Government Initiatives, Consumer Awareness and Accessibility. The study also found there is a positive correlation between Consumer Perceptions, buying Practices and Problems of Consumers. Dr. G. Rambabu&L. Vinod Kumar,((2017) found The 76% of the respondents are aware of the 91. 6 KDM, which is a quality mark for gold. 59% respondents are aware of the Agmark. 51% respondents are aware of the ISI mark. Majority consumers are not aware of the other quality assurance marks. Only 34% respondents are aware of consumer rights, 32% are having partial awareness and 34% do not have awareness about consumer rights. It can be concluded that low level of consumer rights awareness is reported. There is a significant difference between consumer rights awareness and education, profession, age and income. There is no significant difference between consumer rights awareness and gender. Only 20% respondents are aware of consumer awareness programs initiated by the government. Low level of awareness is reported towards the Consumer Protection Act. Kangkana Chaudhury,(2017) found Providing protection to consumers from the evil clutches of exploiting manufacturers and sellers is the responsibility of the government which has very well been discharged by passing The Consumer Protection Act, 1986. A number of voluntary consumer organizations and NGOs which number over 800 are working in India to protect and help consumers in one way or more. All these organizations aim to protect and safeguard the interests of consumers and keep a watch over the unscrupulous elements in business. The government also conducts various programs at different times to spread consumer awareness among people. However, in spite of all such initiatives, people are not fully aware of the movement of consumerism and the grievance handling machinery. III. OBJECTIVES1) To know the characteristic of Consumer Protection Act 1986. 2) To analyze the problem faced by consumer. 3) To offer suitable suggestions for improving the awareness level of consumer towards Consumer Protection Act 1986.

Research Methodology

Primary Data: Data collected from the target respondents through structured questionnaire. · Secondary Data: Data collected from different sources as Journals, Magazines, Publications, Report and Internet. · Sample size: 100· Sampling Method: Convenience sampling.

Consumer Protection Act 1986

It ia an Act of the Parliament of India requested in 1986 to verify the interests of clients in India. It makes game plan for the establishment of buyer chambers and various specialists for the settlement of clients' inquiries and for issues related therewith besides. The exhibition was passed in Assembly in October 1986 and came into power on December 24 1986. The day is recognized as buyer confirmation day. This standard is seen as the 'Magna Carta' in the field of buyer affirmation for looking of line trade practices and 'distortion in items' and 'deficiencies in organizations' to the degree India is concerned.

Consumer Rights

These rights were conceptualized in the built up world's shopper setting where buyers are rich and totally reliant available to satisfy their needs. These rights must be reclassified remembering the substances of a creating nation like India.

Right to Safety

Purchaser faultless to thriving is as colossal in its Zone as the market accomplishes itself. It applies to all conceivable usage plans and to all things and Endeavors. Concerning the new market economy and quick inventive advances influencing the market. The preferred position to progress has changed into a pre-essential quality inside and out and affiliations.

Right to Information

Perfect to information infers the benefit appropriate to data surmises the advantage to be given the realities expected to pick a decent decision or choice about parts like quality, total, quality, flawlessness measures and cost of thing or association.

Right to Choice

The buyer has been made to accept that more assortments of similar thing available racks give the individual being alluded to the advantage to pick what she /he needs. Indeed, more accumulations of a near thing just empower false publicizing cases and give the purchaser a deceived slant of decision.

Right to Be Heard

The privilege to be heard suggests that buyers should be allowed to voice their emotions and protests at fitting fora. For instance in case you have been conned in the business focus or prevented from claiming the right idea of organization, your complaint should be heard and given due thought by the experts.

Right to Redres

Rivalry is the response of the market economy. Standard, creators are finding fresher systems for misleading and deceiving buyers. Ruffian market practices are finding their way into buyer homes, abusing customer rights and risking their flourishing.

Right to Consumer Education

Consumer planning engages customers to practice their client rights. It is maybe undeniably the most incredible asset that can take buyers from their present disadvantageous situation to one of solidarity in the business center. Consumer getting ready is dynamic, participatory and is commonly gained by hands-on and traditional experience.

Consumer Responsibilities

Purchaser rights and obligations are interlaced together and without sharing customer duty, buyers will think that its exceptionally hard to make the most of their privileges on a long haul premise. Shoppers need to step circumspectly in the commercial center. Buyer duty should be carried by various purchaser sections

• To think about his/ her civil liberties in all pieces of usage.
• To affirm the wellspring of product by tentative the essential points of the country of launch stage.
• To scan for the points of interest of the product he/she wishes to buy.
• To consent to the prosperity chooses that makes the thing or thing fit for use and to hold fast to bearings before using such things or things, for instance, washing results of the dirt well and foaming milk and cheddar before use.
• To keep the rules that are joined to the package or offer and apply it as prepared, especially with respect to the limit and insurance methodology and conditions.
• Not to purchase equipment, things or product from street vendors.
• Not to be tempted by misdirecting ads. · To read the essence of the product guarantee card before acquiring.
• To take a gander at the stuff and promise that they are without shortcoming before leaving the shop.

Consumr Rights and Associated Responsibilities

To make the children as careful purchasers is the major Moto. To be even more clear to young characters buyer commitments are discussed similar to one side. Customers have an obligation to rehearse their rights and not to be abused individuals.

Responsibilities in Association With Right to Safety

customer has an advantage to be ensured against thing, age system and associations, which are hazardous to success or life. To practice this right, it is the commitment of purchaser to utilize things with sensible alert and care and report absconds carefully investigated thing engravings,and use things exactly as expected read the guidelines manual and hold quick to and headings intentionally analyzed prompted names, if any solicitation shippers about the security characteristics of things look at, stock for thriving highlights before purchasing recognize particular duty regarding standard reasonable advances when utilizing a thing illuminate retailers, makers, industry and Government affiliations when a thing doesn't fulfill security benchmarks Support endeavors to improve security for all customers.

Esponsibilities in Association With Right to Information

The buyer should be outfitted with substances expected to choose a good choice or decision. Buyer must be given adequate information enabling them to act adroitly and proficiently. They ought to in like manner be protected from deceiving or misguided introduction material, paying little heed to whether joined into advancing, naming, and packaging or by various strategies.

Responsibilities in Association With Right to Choose

A consumer should approach a collection of things and organizations at centered expenses. A decision should be available the client. It is the commitment of the customer to see that he has been given a decision to, Exercise the benefit to impact a smart purchase, To grasp their very own motivations for acquiring certain things and organizations.

Responsibilities in Association With Right to Be Heard

It is the benefit of a client to advocate customer's interests with the ultimate objective of tolerating full and mindful idea in enumerating and execution of fiscal and various methodologies.

Responsibilities in Association With Right to Redress

It is the benefit of a customer to get compensation for duplicity of poor items or unsuitable organizations. It is the obligation of a customer to search for redressal in case a seller or maker has conned.

Responsibilities in Association With Right to Consumer Education

Consumer has a benefit to get the data and capacities to be an informed customer all through life. The benefit to buyer guidance joins the benefit to learning and aptitudes required for making a transition to effect factors which impact the consumer decision. Interpretation: From the table-1 that in the total of 100 sample respondents, 55% are male respondents and 45% are female respondents. 6% of the respondents were fall under the age below 20,31% of the respondents were fall underthe age group 30 – 40,and the rest of the 16% fall in the age group of above 40. Another inference from the table is that 10% respondents are doing agricultural activities,25% doing business,36% government employed 17% doing profession and 12% doing other works. From this information we can conclude that the respondents were government employees. Another demographic factor the respondents in educational qualification. Here we can also observe that 10% of the consumers have primary level of education,15% of the customers have higher education,14% have diploma holders,24% have under graduation qualification,23% have post- graduation and rest of 14% have professional qualification. The table reveals that 24% of the respondents fall in income of Rs10,000,38% of the respondents was fall under the income group of Rs 10000-20000,27% of the respondents were consist in the group of income Rs20000-30,000,11% of the respondents were in the income group above Rs 30,000. Interpretation:From the Table 2 show that the consumers faced problems. 38% of the respondents felt Price variation(over charging),they felt in real life. 26% of the respondents Lack of standardized products. 15% of the respondents felt Substandard weights&measures,and following respondents feel Deceptive mall practices, Insufficient consumer guidance, Adulteration&Sub standard products 10%,7% and 4% respectively. FINDINGS1. The demographic factors show that majority of the respondents are male. Majority of the respondents were fall in the age category of 30-40,36% of the respondents are government employees, majority of the respondents are under graduate in the education category. The income of the respondents shows that 38% of the consumers have average income between Rs10000 – 20000. 2. The study reveals that the consumer faced problems are,38% of the respondents felt Price variation(over charging),4% of the respondents felt Adulteration&Sub standard products.

Suggestion

1. Consumers feel so many malpractices in the market but,they don’t know how to complaint against these kinds of malpractices. So the government willgive awareness programs about consumer protection act.
2. Mass media and educational institution needs play an effective role in consumer awakening and imparting information regarding organisations working for the consumer interest in their area. IX.

Conclusion

Offering security to purchasers from the terrible handles of mishandling producers and dealers is the commitment of the association which has especially been released by passing The Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The market parts can't be obliged by the buyers so the best way to deal with check them is to keep their eyes and ears open to mishandle. It is then that the adage 'Customer is the ruler' will hold noteworthiness in its genuine sense open to manhandle.

Reference

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