Abstract
India has been observing December 24 each year since 1986 as “National Consumer Rights Day”, when the Consumer Protection Act [CPA], 1986 came into force on this day. Despite the implementation of the CPA has completed three decades in the country, the rural India has yet to understand the meaning of consumer’s rights & the procedure to protect the right enshrined in the CPA,1986. This has its significance because according to the National Council of Applied Economic Research survey report there are 720 million consumers across the villages and according to the National Sample Survey Organization report there are small & marginal farmers [S&MFs] accounting for 85% of total agricultural holdings in the country. It is against this background this development perspective article briefly but precisely deals with the need to create desired level of awareness among S&MFs as consumers and effectively implement the provisions of the CPA, 1986 for the benefits of farmers and women engaged in agriculture in the light of the importance of agriculture, significant number of farmers and women engaged in agriculture, poor quality of goods and services resulting into the serious issues of land degradation, inefficient use of farm resources, declining farm productivity and rate of return on farm investments.
Highlights
IntroductionMarch 15 each year since 1983 has been observed all over the world as the” World Consumer Rights Day” (WCRD) to promote the basic rights of all consumers for demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and for protesting the market abuse and social injustices
March 15 each year since 1983 has been observed all over the world as the” World Consumer Rights Day” (WCRD) to promote the basic rights of all consumers for demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and for protesting the market abuse and social injusticesHttp://www.granthaalayah.com ©International Journal of Research - GRANTHAALAYAH [376][Patel *, Vol.[5] (Iss.1): January, 2017]ISSN- 2350-0530(O), ISSN- 2394-3629(P)ICV (Index Copernicus Value) 2015: 71.21IF: 4.321 (CosmosImpactFactor), 2.532 (I2OR)which undermine them
Oxfam International study in Uttar Pradesh shows that 6 per cent women own land, less than 1 per cent participated in Government training programs, 4 per cent have access to institutional credit and 8 per cent have control over agricultural income
Summary
March 15 each year since 1983 has been observed all over the world as the” World Consumer Rights Day” (WCRD) to promote the basic rights of all consumers for demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and for protesting the market abuse and social injustices. The consumer movement in India as a social force has its genesis to protect and promote the interest of consumers against fraudulent, unethical and unfair trade practices of manufacturers and traders who are perceived to maximize profits with scant or no regard for consumers’ well-being Against this background, the Consumers Protection Act [CPA] came into being in 1986 with the objective of providing for effective safeguards to consumers against various types of exploitations and unfair dealings relying mainly on compensatory rather than a disciplinary or preventive approach. The Act mandates three specific provisions viz.[i] never pay more than maximum retail price, giving enough scope to bargain on price [ii] always take bills for all purchases so that the Government gets the rightful tax from the shopkeeper It is a must for redressal or claims [iii] as a consumer one has the right to redressal. It has yet to make an impact on 833 million people residing in country’s 6,38,365 villages, more importantly on 85% of small & marginal land holders who provide food and nutritional security to country’s entire population and have to eke out a living pursuing economic activities connected with agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing and forestry
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