Q. 1. What is consumer movement?
Ans: Modern economy and modern market are said to be consumer oriented. In modern market consumer is regarded as king. In modern market, consumer is given topmost importance. Every attempt is made to promote consumer satisfaction. This is necessary because success, survival and growth of business depend upon support and satisfaction of consumers.
However, this is only in theory. In practice consumer is slave. In practice he is cheated and exploited by seller by various business malpractices. Hence, consumer needs protection from such exploitation and cheating.
However, complete protection is not possible by the government. After all self-protection is better than protection from outsiders. For such self-protection consume19 must be properly educated and united A consumer must be made a powerful consume. For this a strong and stable consumer movement is necessary.
The process of bringing consumers together educating them about their rights and duties and organizing them systematically is called consumer movement. It is the movement of consumers, by the consumers and for the consumers. It is not against traders and businessmen. It is mainly for the protection of consumers through peaceful method.
What are its objectives?
Following are the objectives of consumer movement:
1. To ensure safety, security and welfare of the consumers.
2. To educate consumers regarding their rights, duties and responsibilities.
3. To protect the interest of consumers from all types of business malpractices.
4. To fight against injustice to consumers through peaceful methods.
5. To organize lectures, seminars and public meetings for giving wide publicity to unfair trading practices of businessmen.
6. To represent consumers at different levels and put pressure on Government for passing suitable consumer protection laws.
7. To fight with present marketing system in order to improve it and make it fair and favorable to consumers.
8. To bring to the notice of the government the problems and difficulties faced by the consumers.
9. To undertake activities like starting consumers stores, production and distribution of essential commodities on co-operative basis, etc.
10. To help individual consumer in legal matter is. filing a complaint in the court. advising a consumer on legal matters, etc.
What are the features of consumer movement?
Ans: Following are the features of consumer movement:
1) Voluntary movement: Consumer movement is a voluntary movement of consumers. It is formed by consumers willingly and not by force. Some active and cautious consumers come together and form their association to fight for the well-being of consumers. It is a non-political and non-religious association of consumers.
2) Democratic movement: Consumer movement is the democratic movement of consumerist is the movement of the consumers, by the consumers and for the consumers. It aims at consumer protection, education and welfare through peaceful methods.
3) Implementation of laws: Consumer movement studies various laws made for consumer’s protection and ensures that they are implemented efficiently and effectively for the benefit of the consumers.
4) Wider concept: Consumer movement is not restricted to buying of goods and services only it is extended to public utilities and services like transport communication, banking, health, etc.
5) Objectives: The main objectives of consumer movement are to educate consumers unite them and fight against injustice to consumers.
6) Group starts: Organized efforts of consumers for solving their problems and difficulties help to safeguard their rights and privileges. Consumer movements. represents a spirit of self-help and group action.
7) Creating awareness: Consumer movement aims at creating awareness among the consumers so that collective actions can be taken on issues like consumer protection laws supply in information, black-marketing. business malpractices, etc.
8) Seller beware: Before starting of consumer movement goods were sold with the? condition “Let the buyer beware”. At that time, it was the responsibility of buyer to inspect the goods and confirm that the goods are of desired quality Once the goods were sold no complaints were entertained by sellers Now it is the responsibility oi seller to inspect the goods and confirm that the goods are of desired quality The seller has to give fair treatment to the consumers. Thus, there is a change in attitude from “Let the buyer beware” to “Let the seller beware”.
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