Ref : E&R/Press/04/FMPLEA.28/sam-dG

CERC Urges FM to Call Consumer Groups for Pre-budget Talks

Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad, has expressed satisfaction at the decision of the Union Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, to reintroduce the earlier system of pre-budget consultations with different segments of society.

In a representation to Mr. Chidambaram, CERC requested the Minister to include consumer groups among the segments which will be consulted.

CERC pointed out that earlier, when Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Chidambaram had introduced and pursued the system of consulting representatives of various sections of society before presenting the Union Budget, at least 12 to 14 consumer groups used to be invited to such consultations.

Newspaper reports on Mr. Chidambaram’s decision to revive the system of pre-budget consultations did not mention the inclusion of consumer groups. Referring to this, CERC said it might be an “accidental omission” and requested him to take consumer groups’ views into account.

In another letter to Mr Sharad Pawar, Union Minister for Agriculture, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, CERC appreciated Mr Chidambaram’s idea of reintroducing the practice of pre-budget consultations.

CERC requested Mr Pawar to pursue the Finance Minister for including consumer groups in the pre-budget talks.

Date : 28/06/2004
Place : Ahmedabad

Pritee Shah
Editor
INSIGHT - The Consumer Magazine

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CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE
“Suraksha Sankool”, Thaltej, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad- 380 054 (INDIA)
Phone: 079-27489945-46 Fax: 079-27489947
E-mail: cerc@wilnetonline.net
Web Site: http://www.cercindia.org
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