KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 8 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) held a meeting with the Directorate of Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection on November 6.
The meeting was held with the the Controller, Government of Nagaland, Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection (LMCP), Honje Konyak and other officials. Konyak is also the Secretary, Department of Food & Civil Supplies.
A press release from the NVCO informed that the meeting was held to discuss ways to promote and protect the rights of the consumers with the the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and also protect the consumers from exploitation in various areas in the state, especially in the time of this pandemic.
The Controller “is well aware of the situation of the prevailing market and trade practices in the state capital and he has shown great concern towards the welfare of consumers,” the NVCO said.
NVCO President, Kezhokhoto Savi highlighted the activities of the organization in promoting consumer awareness. He said that there is still dearth of awareness among the people in the state and more needs to be done. He asked the State Government, especially the nodal department to be more effective and forceful.
Savi said that one of the major developments of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 is the establishment of Central Consumer Protection Authority to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and consumers and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.
The NVCO President urged the government department to immediately take up various issues with the State Government. He called upon the department to propose framing of the Consumer Protection Rules as per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 so as to implement the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 in the state at the earliest.
Secondly, the State Government has to re-constitute Nagaland State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission at the earliest as many cases are lying pending and many more cases are to be file, he informed. Savi further reminded the concerned department to find suitable infrastructure to run the State Commission till such a time that commission has its own building. He informed that the commission was not functioning since the retirement of the former President.
Further the NVCO President asked the State Government, particularly the district administration, municipal council/town council and the Department of Food & Civil Supplies to put their heads together towards regulating the prices to reasonable rates as the prices have shot up due to pandemic.
He meanwhile asked the State Government has to constitute a Food Commission as per the National Food Security Act, 2013. Savi added that the Chairperson of both the State Consumer Protection Council and District Consumer Protection Council must convene a meeting as per the Act as their object is to render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights within the state and district respectively.
The Controller, LMCP, Honje Konyak in his closing remarks said that the department would send a proposal to frame the Consumer Protection Rules as per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and also request the State Government, particularly the Committee, to find the President to run the State Commission at the earliest.
He informed that the department will send a proposal to the State Government to allot government vacant building which would be suitable for functioning of the State Commission for the time being till it is able to develop its own infrastructure.
Konyak thanked the attendees of the meeting and said that such meetings would have to be conducted frequently. Such meetings, he stated, would help the government to do better in promoting and protecting the rights of consumers in the state.
