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BEGININGS SINCE INDEPENDENCE, India has been striving to develop and strengthen its industrial base. In this pursuit of "self-sufficiency", however, the consumer has been made to endure sub-standard products and services: adulterated foods, short weights and measure, spurious and hazardous drugs, exorbitant prices, endemic shortages leading to black marketing and profiteering, unfulfilled manufacture guarantees,and a host fo other ills. In one infamous case, forty persons were struck with dropsy and glaucoma after consuming groundnut oil adulterated with toxic argimon oil. The culprits were never brought to justice. This outrage energised nine ladies to organize a movement to fight for consumer rights. They formed the Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) to resist consumer exploitation of all forms. HIGHLIGHTS Following are some some of the landmarks achieved by CGSI : 1.
CGSI is the earliest consumer organisation in India, founded in 1966.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK CGSI was the first consumer organisation to demand special Consumer Court for redressal of consumers' complaints. In 1975, CGSI led a delegation of five consumer organisations from different parts of India to the then Minister for food and Civil Supplies, Mr.T.A. Pai, to press for a comprehensive Consumer Protection Act, Special Consumer Court and a Directorate for implementation of the ACt. The first two have now become a reality. COMPLAINT REDRESSAL CGSI handles consumer complaints and offers legal guidance to those wishing to file suits in the Consumer Court. In case where there are a number of complaint against a particular party, both sides are brought together to resolve the issue. The CGSI'S Complaints Committee meets twice a week. Many thousands of grievances have been handled over the years, with 70% success in favour of the complaints cover medical/surgical malpractice and negligence; insurance non-payment; sub-standard drugs and medicines; home remedies; defective household appliances; poor quality foods and drinks; misleading advertising claims; and grievances concerning investments, real estate, insurance, telephones, electricity supply, etc. PRODUCT TESTING As early as 1977, CGSI established the facility of product testing. It first assessed the safety and perforamance of domestic pressure stoves and found that two-third of the samples tested failed in safety Parameters. CGSI sent the results to the goverment and indian Standards Institution (ISI) with a demand for mandatory certification. In 1986, the Pressure Stoves Quality Control Order was passed. later,ISI Certification for pressure stoves became mandatory. Subsequently tests were carried out on electrical appliances and fittings - irons, immersion heaters, This culminated in the enactment of the Household Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order. A food adulteration testing kit has been developed for use by the lay consumer. Many other products were tested and reports published in the Society's monthly Journal, "Keemat": edible oils, powdered spices, 'surma', geysers, clinical thermometers, plastic water bottles, rubber teats, milk, mineral water, bread, soft drinks, bath soaps and toothpaste. CONSUMER EDUCATION FOR SCHOOLS/COLLEGES CGSI's Education Committee members had been working with other likeminded educationists to formally introduce Consumer Education in the school curriculum. After nearly two years of meetings and discussions, our efforts were fruitful. In 1994, the Maharashtra Education Board introduced Consumer Education at the 9th Standard Level, progressively covering students from the 4th Standard upwards. The subject taught are the Consumer Moment, Rights & Responsibilities of Consumers, the Consumer in the Market Place, Food Adulteration, Weights and Measures, the Environment, etc. This topics included under existing subjects like Civics, Economics and Home science, are project-based and more practical in nature then theoretical or examination-oriented. CONSUMER EDUCATION FOR RURAL CONSUMERS CGSI started a rural project in the villeges of Thane and Raigad districts (Maharashtra) in 1997, with a staff of six and funding from Actionaid. Consumer training was given to people in 112 villages by 1999. Over 32,300 people have received Consumer Education through 750 talks and demostrations in the 2 years of the project, 107 training programmes were organised and 5,767 potential activists have been given special training in Consumer Activision. Three local Consumer groups have been setup in different areas by the Consumers themselves, and these are now actively organising exhibitions, holding talks and redressing complaints. more are expected to come up soon. PUBLICATIONS "Keemat" is now in its 32th year of publications, the first Consumer magazine in India to be published regularly every month. CGSI has also produced Consumer Guides on subject like Electrical Appliances, Edible Oils, Pesticides, Food, Adulteration, Safety At Home, Safe Blood, etc. NATIONAL AWARD In 1991, CGSI received the National Award for Consumer Protection in its 25th year for service to Consumers. CGSI hopes to reach out to more and more consumers in the new millenium and to developed newer and more effective methods of serving consumers interest. CGSI
FOUNDERS
Their cause has been joined down the years by several
public minded citizens. Many illustrious names figure in the list of
CGSI Presidents.
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