In keeping with the marketing’s modern philosophy, the consumer is intended to be the KING and business is supposed to provide all-out possible satisfaction to the consumer. However, the reality is another way around, the King is often subjugated. In a country like India, where there are not many products available, a few companies enjoy control over the markets. A large majority of consumers in India are illiterate and poor and hence are not aware of their consumer rights. These are however very few reasons, which deprive consumers of their rights. The exploitation begins with misleading advertisements, fractional weights and measurements, poor quality goods, maximum retail price, etc. Hence, these days we see a lot of people enquiring about procedures to file Consumer Court Online Complaint.
Following are a few reasons that hold the ground regarding the necessity of consumer protection in our country:
1) The companies who provide goods to the consumer, get the raw material to produce their finished product, manpower and machinery and other required resources from the society. Hence, these companies are obliged to produce and supply the right quality product at a price that is easy on everyone’s pocket.
2) It is the ethical and collective responsibility of the companies or the businesses to promote and protect the interests of their fellow countrymen or the consumers.
3) The chief purpose of business is to placate the expectations and needs of consumers. It is because of consumer and their satisfaction that business can continue their operations while earning profits and maintaining their hold in the market place.
4) The Government of India is loyal and dedicated to the welfare of its citizens and often impose and encourage fair trade practices.
5) Media has its own part to play and is educating the general public through information and education published in newspapers, televisions and radio, thereby making people aware of their rights as consumers in their very own country.
Methods of Consumer Protection
In keeping with the views of legal pandits, there are chiefly four methods implementing which can lead the way in protecting the interests of our consumers.
Business Self-Regulation
As the name explains, consumer protection can be achieved with the cooperation and self-discipline of the business commune itself. It is important that the businessman adopt and enforce higher ethical standards for their products and services. Unfair trade practices that are used by some businessman should be put under strict inspection by both consumer associations and trade associations.
Consumer Self-Help
No one can safeguard your interests better than you; hence it is important that the consumer himself is educated and have the most updated information on his rights offered to him by the Indian constitution. He should not allow corrupt traders to cheat him with poor quality or faulty products or services.
Consumer Associations
It is important that the consumers unite their hands and form voluntary associations. The chief role of such associations should be to educate their fellow consumers about their rights and stop the unfair trade practices being practiced by some dishonest businessman.
Government Regulations
The last but not the least, consumer protection can only be achieved if the government take part in this program. This can easily be provided by the country’s state governments via strict judicial, executive and legislative actions. Strict law enforcement and penalties by the government ministries and the official would create a sense of fear and justice among businessman (who follow unfair trade practices) and consumer respectively.
For more information on how to process consumer court online complaint, visit https://www.consumersathi.com/
