Social Science SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS(3 Mark)

Importance of the three– tier Quasi judicial machinery under Consumer Protection Act (COPRA)

1. Under COPRA three tier Quasi– Judicial machinery at district, state and National level set up.
2. The district level court deals with the cases involving claims upto 20 lakhs.
3. The state level courts deals with between 20 lakhs to one crore.
4. The national level court deals with cases involving claims exceeding one crore.

Consumers are exploited in the market place in following ways:-

1. Weigh less than what they should.
2. Traders add charges that were not mentioned before.
3. Traders sell adulterated or defective goods.
4. False information is passed through the media and other sources to attract consumers.

“The Consumer movement arose out of dissatisfaction of the consumers”-

1. As many unfair practices were being indulged in by the sellers.
2. There was no legal system available to the consumers to protect them from exploitation in the market place.
3. In India, the consumer movement as a “Social Force” originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interest of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices.
4. Rampant Food shortage, hoardings black marketing, adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organized form in the 1960’s.

The consumer movement as a 'social-force' originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting· the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices of the producers and sellers

1. Rampant food-shortages, hoarding, black marketing and adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organized form. in the 1960s.
2. In the early phase, consumer organizations were mainly engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed groups to look into malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in road passenger transport.
3. Because of all these efforts, the movement succeeded in putting pressure on business firms and the government toChange their unfair ways.

The consumer redressal process is becoming cumbersome, expensive and time consuming because of the following reasons:

• Whenever a consumer grievance cannot be sorted out by amicable means or at least on terms acceptable to both parties, the consumer has to hire the services of a lawyer and seek redressal within the confines of the formal establishment of law.
• Often, the consumers do not normally insist on receipts of the purchase. As a result there is no retail trajectory of such purchases.
• The laws on this subject are yet to be properly laid down and are open to legal maneuvering by lawyers. As a result, the enforcement of such laws becomes difficult.

“Rules and regulations are required for the protection of the consumers in the marketplace.”

1. Individual consumers often find themselves in a weak position, whenever there is a complaint regarding a good or service that had been bought, the seller tries to shift all the responsibility onto the buyer.
2. Exploitation in the marketplace happens in various ways. For e.g., sometimes the traders indulge in unfair trade practices such as – when shopkeepers weigh less than what they should or when traders add charges that were not mentioned before, or when adulterated or defective goods are sold.
3. At times false information is passed on through the media to attract consumers.

Right to seek Redressal:

1. Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices and exploitation.
2. If any damage is done to a consumer, he has the right to get compensation depending on the degree of damage.
3. There is a need to provide to an easy and effective public system by which this can be done.
4. Example of Prakash or any other relevant example to be explained.

The consumer movement was started out of the frustration of the consumers against the unfair practices adopted by the sellers. Moreover there was no legal system available to consumers to protect them from exploitation in the market place. The consumers could not tolerate the unethical and unfair trade practices like the rampant food shortage, black marketing and hoarding of essential goods, adulteration of food etc. This gave birth to consumer movement in an organised form in the 1960s.

Right to seek redressal:

1. The consumers can seek redressal against trade practices of exploitation and have the right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances.
2. He has a right to get compensation from a manufacturer/trader if he is harmed. The consumer can seek redressal through Consumer Courts functioning at district, state and national levels.

Example: Mahesh sent a money order to his village for his mother’s medical treatment. The money did not reach his mother at the time when she needed it and reached months later. Mahesh, thus filed a case in the district level consumer court to seek redressal.

The markets do not work in a fair manner because:

1. Sometimes shopkeepers weigh less than what they should.
2. Traders add charges that are not mentioned before.
3. Shopkeepers sell adulterated or defective goods.
4. At times false information is passed on through the media, and other sources to attract customers.

Example - The case of milk powder for the babies.

5. When producers are few and powerful and the consumers purchase in small amounts and are scattered. It results in a unfair practices in the market place.

Especially when large companies are producing these goods.

They manipulate market in various ways e.g.

• Black Marketing.
• Rampant food shortage, etc.

Consumer Protection Councils help consumers in these ways:

1. They guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer court.
2. On many occasions, they also represent individual consumers in the consumer courts.
3. These voluntary organisations receive financial support from the government for creating awareness among the people.
4. If there is any unfair trade practice meted out to their members they take up the case on their behalf.

Abhirami joined a two years coaching class but decided to opt out after one year, She was denied a refund, so she filed a case and was given compensation of Rs. 7000.
Reji was to have a tonsillectomy but due to improper anaesthesia was crippled for life. his father filed case and was given a compensation of Rs.5 lakh.

Public interest group is a group which promote collective rather than selective good:-

1. They aim to help groups other than their own members.
2. They look after public interest by mobilising people, creating awareness and by exerting influence on the government.
3. For example BAMCEF (Backward and Minorities Community Employees Federation) is an organisation largely made up of government employees that campaigns against caste discrimination.

The Council is committed to enhancing consumer welfare and empowering consumers to protect themselves. Consumers include consumers of goods and services and purchasers, mortgagors and lessees of immovable property. it acts as advocate for consumer interests, it sees to empower consumers to help themselves.

1. They guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer court.
2. Sometimes, they also represent individual consumers in the consumer courts.
3. The council is committed to enhancing consumer welfare and empowering consumers to protect themselves.

Ways of Consumer Exploitation:

1. Adulteration.
2. Over weighing/Under Weighing.
3. Rough behavior of shopkeepers.
4. Incomplete information of ingredients.
5. Absence of expiry date on products.

A three-tier quasi-judicial machinery has been set up for redressal of consumer disputes under COPRA(Consumer Protection Act), at the district, state and national level.
At the district level court, cases involving the claims upto ₹ 20 lakhs are handled, at the state level court, cases involving the claim between ₹ 20 lakhs and ₹ 1 crore are handled and at the national level court, cases involving claims exceeding ₹ 1 crore are handled.
If any case is dismissed at district level court, the consumer can appeal to state level court and then to national level court.

Reasons for the beginning of the Consumers Movement:

1. Dissatisfaction of the consumers.
2. Many unfair practices were being indulged in by the sellers.
3. No legal system available to consumers to protect them from exploitation.

Conditions in which markets do not work in a fair manner:

1. When producers are few and powerful.
2. When consumers purchase in small amounts.
3. When consumers are scattered.
4. When large companies have monopoly in production of goods as they have huge wealth and can manipulate the market in various ways.
5. Passing on false information through media and other sources to attract the consumers.

Producers and Consumers

1. As producers of goods and services, we would be working in any of the economic sectors - Primary, secondary and tertiary like agriculture and industry services.
2. Produce different goods and supply them to the market.
3. As consumers we participate in the market as and when goods and services are required.

Advantages of RTI

1. Compensation and replacement.
2. Action against malpractices by the shopkeepers.
3. Facility to protest and campaign on manipulation of prices.
4. Right to information about government processes.

Standardisation of products.Measures taken by the government to protect the consumers from lack of quality and varying standard of goods:

1. ISI/BIS.
2. Agmark.
3. Hallmark.

Rules and regulations are required because:

1. Individual consumers often find themselves in a weak position.
2. Seller tries to shift all the responsibility on to the buyer.
3. Unfair trade practices.
4. Adulterated/defective goods are sold.
5. False information is given and passed on through the media.

Consumer movement arose in India:-

1. Dissatisfaction among consumers due to unethical practices by sellers.
2. Non-availability of legal system for consumer protection.
3. Protection of consumers against unfair trade practices.
4. Malpractice in ration shops.
5. Rampant food shortages.

Rules and regulations required for the 'protection of consumers' 'interest' in the marketplace because:

1. Individual consumers when exploited at the market, find themselves in a weak position. Sellers take no responsibility of the products they have sold.
2. Unfair trade practices like blac marketing, adulteration etc. need to be checked.
3. Many people who work in the unorganised sector have to work at a low wage and accept conditions that are not fair and are also harmful to their health.

Cosumer awareness must be spread among consumers to avoid exploitation, this can be done through the help of media, by showing advertisements and rights of the people on the television. Other then that there can be multiple ways to do that:

1. Legislative step:

Various Acts have been formed, the most important Act is:

1. Consumer Protection Act, 1986: To solve the consumer grievances in a speedy, simple & inexpensive manner. Under this three types of courts have been established.
2. Separate departments for consumer welfare have been established in both central and state government.

2. Administrative steps:

1. Public distribution system (PDS) has been established for preventing the exploitation of consumers.
2. Government tries to prevent illegal ways of making profit like hoarding and black marketing.

3. Technical steps:

Government has established various agencies for developing standard for various products and to check and certify the products according to the standards. In India, two agencies are responsible for it.

1. BIS or Beureau of Indian standards: Sets the standards for industrial products, checks them and certifies them with ISI mark. Through regular surveillance and taking samples both from market and factories ensures the standards of the products.
2. Agmark: Established under the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for certifying the food and agricultural products.

1. On the packed goods, details of ingredients used, price, batch number, date of manufacture, expiry date and address of manufacturer is needed.
2. On the packets of medicines, we must get ‘directions for proper use’ and information relating to side effects, its expiry date and risks associated with usage of that medicine.
3. When we buy garments, we must find information on ‘instructions for washing’.

To obtain maximum profits, producers may be restricting production rather than ensuring the maximum utilisation of resources. This strategy of restricting productionby firms in order to obtain profits in a capitalist system or mixed economy is known ascreating artificial scarcity.

Consumer awareness means educating the consumer about his rights and duties. As a result of consumer education, consumer becomes familiar with the laws that protect his interests and restrict his exploitation.

Students do it themself.

COPRA stands for Consumer Protection Act and it is a major step taken in 1986 by the Indian government was the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986, popularly known as COPRA. Consumer Protection Act, 1986 enables the consumer to enhance major six rights and they are,

• Right to be Protected.
• Right to be Informed.
• Right to be Assured.
• Right to be Heard.
• Right to seek Redressal.

If the consumer has been to the transaction with the producer, he should keep certain documents. It should be kept because they can be used as shreds of evidence.
Proof of purchase:

• a credit or debit card statement.
• a lay-by agreement.
• a receipt or reference number given for phone or internet payments.
• a warranty card showing the supplier's or manufacturer's details and the date or amount of the purchase.

Yes, it is true to say that Rules and regulations are required for the protection of the consumers in the market place because:

• It will bind the traders to be fair enough with the consumers in the market place.
• The position of the consumers would be strong in the market and thus will not be discriminated by the sellers.
• The sellers will not be able to sell the adulterated goods as they will have the fear of being punished by the consumer courts.

1. Right to Safety.
2. Right to redressal.
3. Right to Information.
4. Right to consumer education.
5. Right to choice.
6. Right to representation.

Individual consumers are often exploited and find themselves in a weak position. Whenever a consumer makes a complaint regarding a product or service that he has bought, the seller tries to shift all the responsibility back on the consumer himself. The seller usually says, ''If you didn’t like what you have bought, please go elsewhere''.

Following points should be kept in mind while selecting the quality of fabric:

1. Fibre of cloth.
2. The quality of its weave. Clothes with tight weave are better and those with loose weave are tending to shrink easily.
3. Method to wash and maintain the cloth if some special method or material is to be used?
4. Type of cloth used in lace, piping, and lining of the garment. It should match the main cloth, otherwise, it will cause inconvenience in washing and ironing. Lining should not be affected by sweat and shrinkage.

1. Individual Consumer.
2. Consumer Organisations/ Registered Voluntary Consumer Associations.
3. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).
4. The Central Government or any State Government.

There is no court fee for filing complaint in consumer court. The consumer has to file a simple registration form and can even plead his case on his own. The claim up to ₹ 20 lakh is filed with district forum. If a consumer is not satisfied with the decision of the district forum, then he can make appeal to the state commission. If the consumer is not satisfied with the decision of state commission then he can make appeal to National Commission located in New Delhi. National Commission is the apex body in this regard.

The consumer movement arose out of dissatisfaction of the consumers who were being befooled by the unfair practices of the sellers. It was felt necessary to stop their exploitation in the marketplace. It took many years to organise consumers, but once the task was done malpractices were brought to a halt. The values associated with this movement are:

1. The consumer movement became a success in India because it was highly well-organised. It symbolizes teamwork.

2. Awareness amongst people were created. It was made everyone's responsibility to be careful while buying a commodity or service.
3. It was felt necessary to protect and promote the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices:

In October 2005, the government of India enacted a law, popularly known as RTI or Right to Information Act, which ensures its citizens all the information about the functions of government departments.
The effect of the RTI Act can be understood by taking up the following example.
An engineering graduate applied for a government job and submitted all his certificates. But officials did not inform him the status of his selection. He, therefore, filed an application using the RTI Act, saying that it was his right to know the result, so that he could plan his future. He soon got his call letter for appointment.

1. Right to information about the details of the goods and services that consumers purchase is essential in order to protect their interest or save them from exploitation in the marketplace.
2. Every product must carry certain details on the packing such as date of manufacture, expiry date, address of the manufacturer, etc.
3. If any product proves to be defective in any manner, consumers can complain and ask for compensation or replacement of it.

Consumer awareness to avoid exploitation: Consumer awareness is essential to avoid exploitation in the market place. Market do not work in a fair manner. Exploitation happen in various ways. Therefore, awareness is essential. Certain details are given on the packing. When we buy medicines, on the packets details are marked. Rules have been made so that the manufacturer displays the information. Consumers can complain and ask for compensation or replacement of the product, if proves to be defective in any manner.

Consumers' movement can be truly successful and effective when consumers will realise their role and importance. It is often said that consumer movements can be effective only with the consumers' active involvement. It requires a voluntary effort and struggle involving the participation of one and all.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) provides Hallmark certification.
Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery is operated through BIS network of Regional and Branch Offices all over the country.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifies the standards of products at the international level. It was established in 1947 and located in Geneva.
BIS has been an active member of ISO. So, it takes active part in the development of International Standards with a view to protect the interests of Indian trade and industry.

Consumer awareness to avoid exploitation: Consumer awareness is essential to avoid exploitation in the Marketplace. Market do not work in a fair manner. Exploitation happens in various ways. Therefore, awareness is essential. Certain details are given on the packing. When we buy medicines, on the packets details are marked. Rules have been made so that the manufacturer displays the information. Consumers can complain and ask for compensation or replacement of the product if it proves to be defective in any manner.

The situation in which the buyers do not receive the benefits and services according to the buyer's value or the situation in which the sellers receives or charges the value of commodities higher than its value is known as consumer exploitation. Therefore it is very much essential to safeguard the consumers from exploitation. Because of the intention for the safety of the consumers and to avoid the exploitation in quality of the product it is necessary to follow strict rules while the production process.

Recently, one of my neighbours purchased a car. The steering system of the car was defective. The driver was lucky to survive a minor accident with small injuries. Within a few days of that accident the car company announced a recall of about 50,000 cars to rectify the problem.
OR
A boy consumed a cold drink and immediately drinking after it there developed symptoms of food poisoning. He was taken to the nearest hospital and was diagnosed as having taken a poisonous liquid. The public informed the police and police immediately sealed the remaining cold drinks. The shopkeeper was arrested for selling adulterated cold drinks.
(or any other suitable example can take by student)

Consumer movement began in organised form In USA in 1960’s in India it started in 1986 after consumer protection act was introduced. The motive behind the consumer movement was to protect and safeguard the right of consumers and stop the unfair practices of the sellers. It was a protest against the exploitation of the consumers in peaceful manner.

Standardisation is very essential to save the consumers from malpractices and fraudulent means. For example:

1. For certain articles, ISI mark is a must to ensure high quality and avoid accidents.
2. On the food products, it is essential to indicate the weight on every packet, expiry date and other related information.
3. The producers of the medicine have to print the date of manufacture, date of expiry, salts used, precautions if any.

'Consumer Protection Councils' help consumers in the following ways:

1. They guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer court.
2. On many occasions, they also represent individual consumer in the consumer courts.
3. They also create awareness among the people.