Active cooperation of government, private, voluntary organizations, civil society and above all media is required to make the consumer protection campaign effective, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today while addressing the State Level National Consumer Day 2024 organized at Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Center.
The Chief Minister further said that the Consumer Protection Act was enacted on 24 December 1986 to safeguard consumers. This law did not have enough provisions to hold commercial entities accountable. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taking this into account, passed the new Consumer Protection Act 2019 in Parliament and it has been implemented across the country from July 20, 2020. This law aims to hold fraudulent entities accountable and stop all kinds of scams.
He further said that in today’s Internet and Social Media era, people are easily becoming victims of fraud. Companies providing services and goods are cheating people and disappearing overnight. In 2010, many people in Odisha were cheated through trust fund companies. To prevent all this and protect consumers, all kinds of provisions have been made in this new law. A Consumer Protection Authority has been formed for the protection of consumers. If there is any violation of consumer rights, this authority will investigate and investigate it and provide protection. Consumers can also file their complaints through E-Filing while sitting at home and get justice. This year, the theme of this day is Digital Hearing & Digital Access to Consumer Justice. Consumers can file complaints digitally without any hassle and get justice. The Chief Minister urged consumers to come forward to file complaints digitally if they are a victim of fraud.
He again said that to assert our rights, we first have to become aware. Only then can individual rights be protected. Now, various programs are being organized at the state and district levels to increase awareness, further accelerating the consumer protection revolution. Consumer protection awareness is a social movement. Due to the continuous efforts of the state government to convey the message of an aware consumer is a safe consumer, the young society has become aware of consumer rights today. More provisions have been made in the budget for consumer welfare. Strict steps are being taken against dishonest traders as per the law. He said that these steps will be tightened further in the coming days.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government has set a goal of building a prosperous and developed Odisha by 2036. In a developed Odisha, consumers should not be a victim of fraud. Therefore, the Chief Minister requested the public to give their feedback on how to build a fraud-free Odisha.
At the event, State Food Supply and Consumer Welfare and Science and Technology Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that an aware consumer is a good consumer. If a consumer is aware, he will get justice against fraud. The department will be made more proactive in the coming days for consumer protection. The Consumer Courts in the state will be further strengthened. He said that protecting consumer interests is our goal and we are working with commitment for it.
Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission Chairman Dilip Mohapatra said that since 2019, the facility of filing complaints from home has been made for the convenience of consumers. Online case filing system has been made mandatory in Odisha and across the country. Case filing and hearing of cases are also being done online. He said that for the first time in the country, an online hearing system has been started in Odisha.
In his welcome address, the Principal Secretary to the Department, Sanjay Kumar Singh, said that our department is committed to freeing the users from the exploitation that they face in their daily lives. He said that everyone should know everything to build an aware and independent society.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister awarded the winners of the speech competition on food safety at school and college levels and the guests released a newsletter published by the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department.
The Special Secretary to the Department, Mrs. Anjana Panda, proposed the vote of thanks.
