PANAJI
As you are aware the major awareness campaigns for consumers were always launched on World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 which is observed every year, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs.
The National Consumer Rights Day was observed in India on December 24. On this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 had received the assent of the President. The enactment of this Act is considered a historic milestone in the consumer movement in the country.
However, in Goa, it was noted by the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (DCSCA) that when the academic begins in June there was no momentum to create awareness on consumer rights among the general public as well as in the educational institutions.
In 2003 the then assistant director of DCSCA Ashutosh Apte mooted a series of proposals at the meeting of the State Consumer Protection Council to boost consumer rights activity. Besides the formation of the Consumer Conciliation Committee and the registration of the Voluntary Consumer Organisations (VCOs) by the Department, it was proposed to observe June 25 as State Consumer Rights Day, the day the Rules of the Consumer Protection Act 1986 were notified in the Goa Official Gazette.
From 2004 the State of Consumer Rights Day was observed on June 25 and it has been a great opportunity for the DCSCA and the media to highlight the importance of consumer rights.
Now this day is even more significant as the amended Consumer Protection Act 2019 needs to be made popular among the consumers. Moreover, as Goa is a major tourism destination, it is important that the consumer rights of the domestic and foreign tourists visiting the State are also protected.
Therefore through the observation of the State Consumer Rights Day on June 25, Goa has added value and its unique contribution to the ‘Jago, Grahak Jago’ – the national awareness campaign on consumer rights of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, government of India.
