Consumers' body calls for concerted fight for justice

From our Special Correspondent

Silchar, Sept 20: The consumers being ignorant of their rights and privileges fail to get proper justice and fall a prey to the deceit and deception of the dishonest businessmen and traders in their day to day business affairs. It is with a view to unite and make the consumers conscious of their fundamental and basis rights that a general meeting was convened by the Grahak Suraksha Samiti (GSS) at Gandhi Bhawan on last Monday. Presided over by the president of the Samiti, Dr. Sourindra Kumar Bhattacharjee, the representatives from various units of the consumers’ body of the district of Cachar articulated their views on various problems confronted by the common people of their respective areas.

 Among those who put forward their views included Akmal Ali Barbhuiya of Udharbond unit, Purnendu Chanda of gar, Binoy ndi of Lakhipur, Prabal Dutta of Meherpur, Chotelal Kurmi of Dilkhush, Sudarshan Rabidas of Moniarkhal and Gour Hari Roy of Sriko. They pointed out how, “Gross anomalies and irregularities are being committed in respect of the distribution of rice and kerosene”. They came out with all the details. The consumers are being deceived on many counts like less weight, price and quality. The fair price shop dealers do such practices without any qualm of conscience and without any care for the authorities concerned.

 Nothing positive emerges even after complaints are brought to the notice of the district supply department (civil). Often, the fair price dealers advise the consumers to lodge complaint with the area officer of the supply department. They even assert consumers can hardly convince the area officer. This implies and gives sigl about the nexus between the fair price dealers and the supply department. They also speak of joint fight against corrupt practices. The grievances aired by the representatives from different units were recorded for follow up action with the authorities concerned as said by Biplob Kumar Goswami, general secretary of GSS.

 Goswami thereafter presented the activities of the Samiti from April 1, 2016 to September 18, 2017. It was also the occasion to explain to the consumers and their representatives about the various legal provisions for their protection. He made it clear that the legal protection should be known to all the customers in their own interest and to save themselves from all sorts of cheating and fraud. He admitted 95% of the people are ignorant about the legal provisions. It was his advice to all the consumers to stand up against the system and corruption. Various resolutions adopted at the general meeting included holding of a larger meet of the consumers from every unit of the district in the month of December.

 Besides, the general meeting also took up for discussion the supply and distribution of LPG cylinders, Ujjala scheme as well as the rising cost of essential commodities and communication and accordingly decisions were taken on all these issues for proper follow up actions. Also came up for discussion was the high fare of air services provided by Air India, Jet Airways and Spice Jet from Kumbhirgram airport. Among others who were present at the meeting and took part in the deliberations included Amarth Khandelwal, advisor of the Samiti, Manik Lal Chatterjea, former district and session judge and ex president of Consumers’ Court, Parimal Deb, working president, and Ashis Choudhury, former member of GSS.