Question 1.
Why are rules and regulations required in the market place? Illustrate with a
few examples.
Answer:
Rules and regulations are required in the market place so that there is
smooth and fair functioning of the economic activities. If there are no rules
and regulations, the seller/’ traders will exploit the consumers. Without
rules and regulations in the market place, there will be law of the jungle;
hold what you can hold till the time you can.
Question 2.
What factors give birth to the
consumer movement in India ? Trace its evolution.
Answer:
In India, the consumer movement as
a ‘social force originated with the necessity or protecting and promoting the
interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices, rampant
food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of food and edible oil
gave birth to the consumer movement in an organised form in the 1960s. Till
the 1970s, consumer organisations were largely engaged in writing articles and
holding exhibitions. They formed consumer groups to look into the malpractices
in ration shops and overcrowding in the road passenger transport. More
recently, India witnessed an upsurge in the number of consumer groups.
Question 3.
Mention a few factors which
cause exploitation of consumers.
Answer:
Following are the factors which cause exploitation of consumers
(i) The traders exploit the consumers by giving substandard quality.
(ii) Undermeasurement or underweight of the product purchased.
(iii) Duplicate articles, adulteration and impurity in goods. In addition to
the above factors lack of awareness and lack of information about the consumer
rights also lead to the exploitation of consumers.
Question 4.
What is the rationale behind the
enactment of the consumer protection Act, 1986 ?
Answer:
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986
was enacted by the indian Government as a specific law to protect the
consumer’s right. This Act provides for the establishment of Consumer Disputes
Redressal agencies at district, state and national levels for the protection
and promotion of consumer interests and to redress their grievances in a
speedy and simple way,
Question 5.
Describe some of you duties as
consumer if you visit a shopping complex in your locality.
Answer:
Some of the duties of consumers
are:
1. While purchasing goods, the
consumers should have a look at the quality of the products as well as on the
gurantee of the products and services.
2.
The consumers should also insist for the warranty card.
3. The consumers should preferably purchase products with quality marks like
ISI, AGMARK, ISO etc.
4. consumers must ask
tor cash memo for the items purchased.
5.
Consumers should take solid steps to form consumer awareness organisations.
6. The Consumer must make complaint for their genuine grievances.
7 The consumers should also take the help of consumer organisations in
seeking redressal of their grievances.
8.
The biggest duty of the consumers is to know their rights and to exercise
them.
Question 6.
Suppose you buy a bottle of
honey and a biscuit packet, which logo or mark you will have to look for and
why?
Answer:
I would look for the ISI mark or Agmark logo so as to ensure that the bottle
of honey or the biscuit packet are of good quality.
Question 7.
What legal measures were taken
by the government to empower the consumers in India?
Answer:
The government had adopted the
following measures to empower the consumers in india
(a) Consumers Protection Act (1986), COPRA.
(b) Setting up of PDS, i.e. Public Distribution System.
(c) Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies at district, state and national
levels.
Question 8.
Mention some of the rights of
consmers and write a few sentences on each.
Answer:
The Consumers Protection Act, 1986
was enacted for better protection of the interests of consumers. This Act
enhances the following rights of the consumers
1. Right to be protected against the marketing of goods an services which
are hazardous to life and property
2. Rights
to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency purity, standard and price
of goods or services so as to protect consumers against unfair trade
practices.
3. Right to be assured, wherever
possible, access to a variety of goods and services to competitive prices.
4. Rights to be herd and to be assured that consumers interests will receive
due consideration at the appropriate forum.
5. Right to consumer education.
6. Right
to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscruplous exploitation
of consumers.
Question 9.
By what means can the consumers
express their solidarity?
Answer:
Consumers can express their solidarity by strengthening the consumers
movement.
Question 10.
Critically examine the progress
of consumer movement in India.
Answer:
The progress relating to consumer movement in India is strengthening year
after year. Until 1970s, consumers organized themselves only in writing
articles or expressing their grievances, as-there began exploitation of the
consumers, there also started organisations, first at local level and there
after at district, state and national levels. The movement had its first law
passed (Consumer Protection Act) in 1986. The government later set up Public
Distribution System so to make the necessary products available to the common
man, especially the poor people.
Question 11.
Match the following
| 1. Availing details of ingredients of a product. | (a) Right to safety |
| 2. Agmark | (b) Dealing with consumer cases. |
| 3. Accident due to faulty engine | (c) Certificate of edible oil and cereals in a scooter. |
| 4. District Consumer Court. | (d) Agency that that develop standards for goods and services. |
| 5. Consumers International | (e) Right to information. |
| 6. Bureau of Indian Standards | (f) Global level institution of consumer welfare organisations. |
Answer:
| 1. Availing details of ingredients of a product. | (e) Right to information. |
| 2. Agmark | (c) Certificate of edible oil and cereals in a scooter. |
| 3. Accident due to faulty engine | (a) Right to safety |
| 4. District Consumer Court. | (b) Dealing with consumer cases. |
| 5. Consumers International | (f) Global level institution of consumer welfare organisations. |
| 6. Bureau of Indian Standards | (d) Agency that that develop standards for goods and services. |
Question 12.
Say True or False
(i) COPRA applies only to goods.
(ii)
India is one of the many countries in the world which has exclusive courts for
consumer redressel.
(iii) When a consumer
feels that he has been exploited, he must file a case in the District Consumer
Court.
(iv) It is worthwhile to move to
consumer courts only if the damages incurred are of high value.
(v) Hall mark is the certification maintained for standardisation of j
ewellry.
(vi) The consumer redressal process
is very simple and quick
(vii) A consumer
has the right to get compensation depending on the degree o the damage.
Answer:
(i) False
(ii) True
(iii) True
(iv) False
(v) True
(vi) False
(vii) True