Consumer Club

The Citizen Consumer club of Agurchand Manmull Jain college shift-II was inaugurated on September 18, 2014 and it has been working on creating and spreading awareness on consumer rights amongst all students and through them to all consumer segments.

The objective of the club is to educate and motivate the Consumer Club Members about the rights and responsibilities of consumers and to make the members inculcate the valuable inputs which they gained among the general public.

Vision

To enable students understand fundamental rights of citizen and make them realize and learn the fundamental duties of a good citizen.
To inject knowledge and skills relating to consumer rights among our college students and to impart knowledge on product standards, product quality and about markets.
To make them aware of laws enacted for protection/welfare of consumers and enforcement authorities concerned.
To build a base of enlightened citizen consumer as the foundation of future India.
Bring awareness and realization about duties and responsibilities as Citizen of India

Mission

The mission of the Consumer Club at Agurchand Manmull Jain College is to educate the students to act as healthy consumers by making them aware about their rights and redress mechanisms and to act as beacons for the society. The students are also taught about the 6 basic rights of the consumer under Consumer Protection Act, 1986

FUNCTIONS OF A CONSUMER CLUB IN COLLEGES

Consumer Clubs have to be activated through some structured activities. Active Consumer Clubs may go beyond this and also take up innovative activities. The following basic structure of functioning is recommended:

Monthly meetings and demonstrations for one hour after school hours on the First Thursday of each month. Each month a topic / activity may be scheduled as in the model calendar.
Days of National and International importance to consumers may be celebrated in the School / College. Poster / Speech / Essay competitions can be organized at school level by the Consumer Club.
Field visit to local markets / Consumer Courts and door to door campaign in the local community etc., may be organized for at-least 4 days in a year. It can be done on Saturdays by prior arrangement.
Minutes of each activity have to be recorded by the Student and Teacher Coordinator jointly to document.
A Consumer Club notice board shall be opened to be updated daily by the teachers and students with consumer related news.

DUTIES OF A MEMBER

To learn and follow the traits of a responsible citizen and aware consumer.
To disseminate information gained through the club among fellow students, parents, and other people in the community.
To organize and actively participate citizen building and consumer protection programmes being organized by the club as well as in their locality, mobilizing general public.
To observe all important international and national days especially Republic Day (26th January), National Consumer Day (24th December) and World Consumer Rights Day (15th March).
To treat all fellow citizens with care, concern and responsibility.

OBJECTIVES OF CITIZEN CONSUMER CLUB

Our vision of markets in India, where consumers are careful and vigilant while manufacturers are responsible and ethical, guides us. The objectives of our mission would be:

Bring awareness and realization about duties and responsibilities as Citizens of India.
Spread awareness about the rights and responsibilities of Citizens and Consumers as provided in the Constitution of India, Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and other Indian Laws.
To enable children, students and self help groups to work together as a team with local communities and develop in to caring, responsible and honest citizens.
Mobilize and instill right-consciousness, confidence to question violations of citizen and consumer rights and fight for justice.
Impart knowledge about real life situations and to enable to development of skills to handle citizen and consumer issues.
Instill concern for environment around us as citizens and consumers and sustainable consumption habits.

CONSUMER RIGHTS

Right to Safety
Right to Information
Right to choice
Right to representation

Right to redressal
Right to Consumer Education
Right to Healthy Environment
Right to satisfaction of Basic Needs

World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated based on former American President John F. Kennedy’s announcement of March 15th as Consumer Rights Day on March 15th 1962.
Subsequently in the year 1973, March 15th was proclaimed as world Consumer Rights Day.
Students may be asked to explain what each right means to them. Voluntary Consumer Organizations representatives can highlight with examples.
National Consumer day is celebrated on December 24th every year as the Consumer Protection Act 1986 came into force on 24.12.1986 across India.

CONSUMER RIGHTS VIOLATION

Consumers in India are largely ignorant of rules, laws and codes. They are also unaware of their rights. A vast majority are also illiterates in many backward districts and states. Hence, dishonest producers and retailers cheat such unsuspecting and ignorant people without difficulty. Hence, consumer welfare is in a state far from desirable. Following are common violations of consumer rights:

Under weighing

Misleading advertisements, especially aimed at children

Dangerous, hazardous or unsafe goods.

Not providing proper bill

Poor quality goods/spoilt/damaged goods

Poor maintenance

Price higher than Maximum Retail Price on cover (MRP

Selling goods whose expiry date is over

Overcharging of interest especially in credit purchase

The list is endless. Now, how do we fight against these violations and get justice? Consumer Beware! We have to be vigilant, cautious and intelligent. The Teacher-Coordinator must also use case studies to illustrate each type of violation and ask students to list violations that they or their parents have experienced or are still faced with. Voluntary Consumer Organizations’ representative and Coordinating Agencies can share their experiences with students.