Body to frame policies on consumer rights

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FE Report
The government has formed a high-powered body to frame guidelines and policies to ensure consumer rights through implementing the consumer protection law.
The body titled 'National Consumer Rights Protection Parisad' will give instructions to field-level officials and district committees to enforce the law. It will also build public awareness on protection of consumer rights through implementing the law.
The ministry of commerce has issued a circular recently forming the 29-member body, chaired by commerce minister.
The government has formed the Parisad with public-private participation to include opinions and recommendations of all stakeholders on enforcing the law.
The Parisad will provide assistance and make recommendations to the government for improving the law and administrative direction.
The body will consider and give opinion on government's different measures initiated for protecting consumers' rights, the circular said.
"The body will initiate massive campaign and educational programmes to make people of consumers rights," the circular said.
It will build public awareness on positive aspects of protection of consumers' rights and negative sides of its violation.
The newly formed Parisad will conduct intensive research on consumers' rights. It will monitor field-level activities of different departments, directorates and district committees on implementation of consumer protection law.
The incumbent government has passed the Consumer Protection Act-2009 in April last through Parliament incorporating provision to reduce harassment of consumers.
The act has provisions to take punitive measures including fines, seizure and imprisonment, in case of violation of consumer rights.
Considering the necessity of building public awareness and educating people on protecting their rights the government has formed the body recently, officials said.
The law will curb hoarding and market manipulations amid soaring commodity prices and a large gap between supply and demand, they said.