Agartala, December 24, 2024: Tripura’s Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs department in collaboration with Higher Education, Home and Transport departments is mulling to hold awareness camps and programmes on ‘Jago Grahak Jago’, ‘Road Safety’ and ‘Anti-Drugs’ in 25 higher educational institutions in next week, Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said on Tuesday.
Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs department observed ‘National Consumers Day’ with the theme ‘Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice’ at Pragna Bhavan here in Agartala city on Tuesday.
Addressing the programme, FCS&CA Minister Chowdhury said “We are coming up with a holistic approach with Transport and Home departments in launching awareness programmes in 25 colleges including general degree, polytechnic and professional institutions. The awareness camp and programmes will be held on ‘Jago Grahak Jago’, ‘Road Safety’ and ‘Anti-Drugs’. Initiatives will also taken to organized procession, quiz competition and prize distribution in next one week. This programme will be earmarked in our calendar year.”
“The ‘Road Safety Month’ will begin in January. Our priority is awareness. There is no force on Earth that can stop us, but we lack the necessary mindset. However, if we conduct this campaign every year, people will become more aware. Even if only 10 people are reached, society will benefit. We aim to create a mass movement,” he added.
Minister said “In the coming days, we will undertake state-level activities with two or three departments. The focus is entirely on awareness. The presence and attentiveness of students and teachers are crucial. We always observe black marketing, where consumers are exploited. Prices are rising, and traders are imposing penalties. We aim to amend the Essential Commodities Act. It falls under the Concurrent List, and without modification by the Government of India, we cannot proceed. The EC Act can provide exemplary punishments. We must rely on awareness.”
“We understand that we are being deprived, but we are not taking action and it is all because either due to a lack of awareness or the futility of making enemies. Paying 5-10 rupees extra and getting deceived repeatedly becomes a practice if not opposed. This is deteriorating the system. We have discussed consumer awareness at many colleges, with good responses from principals. The Consumer Protection Forum is funded by the Government of India. Awareness campaigns are funded through the interest of the corpus fund.”
“How many of us are practicing vigilance? We don’t feel the need for verification. It is not feasible for SDM, Food Inspectors, and Directors to go to the market every day. The most important factor is public awareness. If ration shop dealers and merchant associations become aware, it will greatly benefit everyone” Chowdhury told the gathering.
Retired District and Sessions Court Judge and ex-president of the Tripura State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Ruhi Das Paul, Advocate Sanjay Bhattacharjee, FCS&CA department’s Joint Director Abhijit Biswas gave the welcome address. Jirania SDM Shanti Ranjan Chakma, Mohanpur SDM Subhash Datta, Sadar SDM Manik Lal Das, ration shops dealers, merchant association members, school students and teachers were also present.
