A two-day workshop on ‘Consumer Protection and Consumer Welfare’ was inaugurated on October 3 at J&K Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages.

The workshop was organised by Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) J&K Regional branch and Centre for Consumer Studies (CCS), IIPA New Delhi and sponsored by Department of Consumer Affairs GoI in collaboration with Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, (FCS&CA) Leh.

Padmashree awardee Chewang Phuntsog, Former J&K Chief Secretary presided as the chief guest. He talked about the importance of understanding the rights and responsibilities of a consumer.

Quoting the epithet of ‘consumer is the king’, he said that this king needs protection from misleading advertisements, fraudulent business practices, sub-standard quality and overpricing of goods and services. He then talked about the eight rights of a consumer and said that the government is responsible for both protection of the interest of the consumer as well as business through forming well-thought policies and framework.

He further added that as a consumer, we also have our own set of responsibilities and concerns regarding society, environment, solidarity, and action.

Talking about the demanding and strenuous job of the police, Sargun Shukla, SSP expressed gladness for involving the department of J&K Police in every aspect of people’s lives to help them in safeguarding the life, dignity, and rights through legal aspects.

She said that the participation of police in the workshop is an endeavour to strengthen the safety of the consumers in a more qualitative manner which is a part of the responsibility entrusted on the department.

Prof. Suresh Misra, Chair Professor, Coordinator and Project Director National Consumer Helpline Centre for Consumer Studies, IIPA, New Delhi gave an introduction about the workshop and a detailed presentation on ‘Consumer Protection and Consumer Welfare’.

While,  Dr. Sapna Chadah, CCS, IIPA New Delhi spoke on ‘Consumer Protection Act, 1986’ while Nisar Ahmed Wani, Director, FCS&CA spoke about ‘PDS-Expectations of Consumer’, and Vishal Ray Faculty J&KEDI spoke about ‘Tourism: Rights of Tourists’.

    

Ruth Mary, Assistant Director, FCS&CA Leh, Lft. Col. (Retd.) Karan Singh,  faculty of IIPA New Delhi and state, officers and officials of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Leh and Kargil among numbers of participants were also present.