How the project is useful for a students of economics in consumer awerness
Answers
onsumer is the person who hires or avails of any services for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised or under any system of deferred payment. But Consumer exploitation is very rampant these days. Consumers get exploited in many ways through the more dominating and knowledgeable sources. On the other hand, consumers have to be aware not only of the commercial aspects of sale and purchase of goods but also of the health and security aspect. Besides this, they should be aware of their rights and duties being as rational human beings viz., price and quality of products used by them, about Fair Price Shops, standardization of products, about Consumer Forums etc. Therefore, Consumer exploitation should be bought down with proper awareness to the consumers on their rights and how they could go about with things, if they feel they have been cheated. In the globalization, liberalization and privatization era, most of the economic decisions are taken by the market. Though, the government has withdrawn itself from many economic activities, it interferes very often when the market mechanism fails due to structural rigidities in the economy and other factors, to provide goods and services to the people. Consumption is one of the important economic activities, which requires regular government intervention, as market is unable to promote security and welfare aspects of the consumers. On the other hand, consumers have to be aware not only of the commercial aspects of sale and purchase of goods but also of the health and security aspect also. Besides this, they should be aware of their rights and duties being as rational human beings.
Though, the first consumer movement began in England after the Second World War, a modern declaration about the consumer’s rights was first made in USA in the year 1962, where four basic consumer rights i.e. Choice, information, safety and right to be heard were recognized. Ralph Nadar, a consumer activist is considered as the father of “Consumer Movement”. 15th March is now celebrated as the World Consumer Rights Day. The U.N.O. Also adopted in the year 1985, certain guidelines to achieve the objectives of maintaining protection for consumers and to establish high level ethical conduct for those engaged in production and distribution of goods and services. In India, 24th December is celebrated as “Consumer’s Day” every year.