Consumer Information Centre will be opened during this year to create an awareness on consumer rights, said Dakshina Kannada District Federation of Consumer Organisation President M J Salian.

Speaking at the World Consumer Day organised jointly by the district administration, District Consumer Forum and Dakshina Kannada district Federation of Consumer Organisation here on Saturday, he said the centre will come up in Zilla Panchayat building.

He said  government had released funds to open consumer information centre in every district five years ago. But the funds had returned back for having unable to utilise it.

“The file related to the opening of consumer information centre has been sent to Bangalore for its approval. Once we get the approval, it will be started in association with the Zilla Panchayat,” he added. 

The centre will provide details such as problems being faced by the consumers, how to get  compensation and how to approach government organisations for help etc.

Mr Salian lamented that consumers do not come forward to get justice through consumer courts. Stating that the redressal of grievances by the Consumer Court is inexpensive and speedy, Mr Salian said that the consumer grievances are redressed by the court quickly.

Through Consumer Forum, one can get a compensation upto Rs 20 lakh in the district level. In State Consumer Forum, one can get compensation upto Rs one crore. Moreover, the grievances will be redressed within 90 days. If it is related to laboratory, then it should be redressed within 150 days.

Many were criticising District Consumer Forum by arguing that the Forum is without any ‘teeth’. But in the past few years, District Consumer Judge has been given the power of First Class Judicial Magistrate. Inspite of this people are hesitating to get their grievances to Consumer court.

Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao inaugurated the programme.

Environmentalist Upendra Hosabettu said along with Consumer Rights Act, even Environment Protection Act came into existence. Unfortunately, 10 per cent of these Acts have been implemented. He said soon after winning first prize in essay competition on environment protection, they forget environment protection. There are no new faces in the movement for environment protection, he lamented. 

MCC Joint Commissioner Ajithkumar Hegde, ZP Deputy Secretary Shivashankar also spoke. ZP President Sucharitha Shetty presided. Food and Civil Supplies Deputy Director H Rathnakar Naik was  present.