ENARADA, Bengaluru, December 24, 2014
The popular schemes of Karnataka including ‘Anna Bhagya Yojana’ and issue of Ration Cards has kept the department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department so busy that protecting consumers took the beating.
Dinesh Gundurao, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, confessed his department failed to provide better protection to consumers due to preoccupation in ensuring efficient management of ‘Anna Bhagya Yojana,’ Government’s popular program to supply 30 kg of Food Grains at 1/- per kg to below poverty line (BPL) families across the State.
Minister Dinesh Gundurao checks out a motorcycle fitted with the ‘Water Mist cum Compressed Air Foam’ based Fire Fighting System, displayed in a stall in the exhibition. Photo: ENARADA.COM
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Speaking today at the ‘National Consumer Day 2014’ event organised by his department to create awareness about consumer rights, at the State Government Employees Association premises in Bengaluru, Dinesh Gundurao promised to focus more on working towards safeguarding the interests of consumers in the coming years.
Minister said he will soon send a proposal to the Government to start a new department to focus entirely on strengthening consumer protection. The consumer Information centres exists only in Bengaluru, Udupi, Bellary, Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga and there is a need to start centres in all other districts, said Dinesh Gundurao.
“The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was the brain child of Rajiv Gandhi to protect consumers from unfair trade practices, Misleading Advertisements and defect in services. However, we will ensure creating more awareness about the act in the following years so that consumers can live like a king. We may establish an exclusive department to further take up the task of protecting consumers,” said Dinesh Gundurao.
Justice BS Indrakala, President, Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Bangalore, said the consumer protection act is aimed at helping consumers and at the same time sending warning signal to fraudulent traders to mend their ways.
“Consumers should come forward to lodge a complaint with us along with proof of purchase whenever they feel they have been taken for a ride,” said Indrakala.
Minister presents flower bouquet to students Ramya Shankar of St. Teresa Girls school, Chamarajpet (left) and Ishwarya of Government School, Sarakki who mesmerised the auditorium with their brief speech about Consumer Rights Awareness campaign. Justice Indrakala looks on.Photo:ENARADA.COM
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School children from various schools in Bengaluru who won prizes in competitions conducted by department to create awareness about consumer rights, poses along with dignitaries present on the dias. Photo:ENARADA.COM
