Students sensitised on consumer rights

Resource person along with the officials and participants during an awareness programme on consumers rights in Kohima on Wednesday.

• DIMAPUR — A consumer awareness programme on the theme “Consumers! Know your rights” was held at Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School (RGHSS) in Kohima on Wednesday.
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• The event was organised by the department of Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection, Kohima, in collaboration with the Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) and the NSS Unit of RGHSS, stated a DIPR report.
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• The resource person and retainer lawyer of KDLSA, Sunjib Rana, gave a comprehensive explanation on consumer rights and responsibilities. Stating that every individual is a consumer from birth to death, he therefore said it is essential to understand both rights and duties in the marketplace.

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• Highlighting real-life examples of misleading advertisements including fairness creams and perfumes, Rana stressed the importance of consumer vigilance and the power of individual complaints in curbing unfair trade practices.
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• “You may feel small standing alone in front of a shopkeeper or a large company,” he said, “but a single consumer’s complaint can bring about significant change.”
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• He explained the grievance redressal mechanism under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
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• Rana also addressed concerns surrounding online shopping, urging students to always retain receipts and record proof such as unboxing videos for use in complaint redressals. He cited a case where such documentation helped a consumer successfully file a claim for a defective phone.
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• In addition, he touched on the topic of medical negligence, explaining that under the Consumer Protection Act, doctors and hospitals are also accountable and serious negligence could lead to both civil and criminal proceedings.
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• The importance of being an informed and responsible consumer was underscored throughout his speech with emphasis on reading terms and conditions, checking return policies and verifying the authenticity of product reviews particularly in e-commerce platforms.
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• He concluded by encouraging students to ask questions, raise grievances when necessary and understands that consumer empowerment is both a right and a responsibility.
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• Delivering the keynote address, the assistant controller of Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection (LMCP), Shiekhozo, emphasised the significance of legal metrology in everyday life, noting that we live in a world governed by measurements and transactions—from the size of clothes we wear to the quantity of food we buy and the services we use daily such as transportation and utilities.
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• “Every transaction we make involves measurement—be it in kilograms, litres or meters. That is where the department of Legal Metrology comes in,” he explained.
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• Shiekhozo reminded the students that as consumers, they have rights and responsibilities.
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• “When you buy a product or pay for a service, you have the right to know its weight, price, expiry date and other crucial details. It is the responsibility of the seller to provide this information transparently,” he explained.
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• He concluded by expressing hope that the session would be beneficial for all the participants.