Need more platforms for consumer issues

BANGALORE: While stressing on the need to make consumers more aware about their issues, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday said that she had submitted a proposal for a state-level Consumer Protection Council to Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda.Speaking on the occasion of National Consumers Day, to mark 25 years of Consumer Protection Act, 1986, the minister said,“There are 6.5 crore consumers in the state. But only 4000-5000 complaints are filed with various consumer forums. This number has to increase. There is a need for more platforms for consumers to express their grievances.”She urged consumers to come forward to file complaints with the various forums that are available. “As consumers, we are cheated at some point or another. More often, consumers hesitate to file complaints as no one wants to go through the hassles of courts. There are now online forums, and other upcoming forums that have to be utilized,” she said.“We have to target high school students when it comes to consumer awareness. They would go on to educate their parents and others as they grow up,” she said.She added that Stri Shakti groups also needed focus. “Such groups have to be made aware about consumers issues,” she added.Justice K Ramanna, honorary president of Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (KSCDRC) said, “The measurement scales used in villages are faulty and outdated. The government has to make mandatory the use of electronic weighing machines."He added, “When I joined KSCDRC in 2009, there were only 13 cases registered in Chamarajanagar. Now, there are 150 pending cases. We are solving cases at a rapid pace. Consumers in Haveri, Gadag, Shimoga and other places are aware about their rights,” he said, adding that there was a need for more forums in Chikkaballapura, Ramnagar and Yadgir.Remuneration not enough“The remuneration received by those working in consumer forums is not enough at all. How does one expect us to redress consumer’s issues with low remuneration? Sometimes, we feel demotivated to work. This matter should be looked into as soon as possible,” said Justice Ramanna.