World Consumer Rights Day

Focus on ‘Empowerment of Consumer —Assert Rights, Pursue Remedies’ and ‘Unethical Drug Promotion’

Consumer Education and Research Society, Ahmedabad and the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Ahmedabad, the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, have joined hands to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March 2007.

They will join the worldwide celebration of the Day with a public meeting in Ahmedabad. The meeting, to be held at Ellisbridge Gymkhana, Nr. Law Garden, from 5 p.m. onwards, will have as its dual-faceted theme ‘Empowerment of Consumer - Assert Rights, Pursue Remedies’ and ‘Unethical Drug Promotion’, topics which epitomise today’s consumer concerns in many ways.

Even a decade ago, promotion of drugs was not thought of. Today, drugs are advertised, publicised and promoted in all ways, most of which are unethical and unaccepted by society — and consumers are denied the right to informed choice.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. A. Mehta, former Judge, Gujarat High Court, Dr. S. P. Adeshara, State Commissioner for Food and Drugs Administration, Dr. Malay Dave, CEO, CERC, Mr. D. R. K. Singh, Sr. Marketing Officer of the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Government of India, Mr. D. B. Vora, Controller - Legal
Metrology and Director - Consumer Affairs, CAPAG, Mr. Bengali Baboo, Director, Bureau of Indian Standards, Ahmedabad, Mr. S. C. Shah, Sr. Marketing Development Officer, Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Government of India, will address the meeting.

The meeting is expected to create awareness among the people about the rights and remedies available to any consumer. It also emphasises on the fact that unless consumer assert their rights, it would become very difficult for them to get remedies. The meeting would also sound a note of warning against unethical drug promotion.

Consumer Rights Day is celebrated around the world to commemorate the visionary introduction of the concept of Consumer Rights four decades ago by US President John F. Kennedy.

Date : 14/03/07
Place : Ahmedabad

Pritee Shah
Sr. Director
Editor, INSIGHT- The Consumer Magazine

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EDITOR : KINDLY PUBLISH THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR PAPER’S “ENGAGEMENT/CITY DIARY /EVENTS” COLUMN ON 15 MARCH 2006:

WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY : Public meeting to focus attention on “ Empowerment of Consumer-Assert Rights, Pursue Remedies ”and “Unethical Drug Promotion”. Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. A. Mehta, former Judge, Gujarat High Court, to preside: Ellisbridge Gymkhana, Nr. Law Garden, 5 p.m. onwards.