'Cheating will continue as long as you stay silent'

The ‘World Consumers’ Day-2011’ held at the Institution of Engineers (IoE) was abuzz with excitement as people expressed their concern about the increasing cases of being duped by vendors.

The programme organised jointly by District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, Food and Civil Supplies Department and IoE here on Tuesday.

Mysore Grahakara Parishat Convenor Bhamy V Shenoy expressed angst at the lack of participation of people in the consumer awareness movement.

Asking those present in the hall to mention the daily issues of duping they faced, he said that unless the people come forward and protest, the cheating will continue unabated.

He requested the Consumer Court in Mysore to refrain from making it a civil court. He said that if lawyers are entertained in consumer courts, then the spirit on which it was formed would be lost.

Mysore District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum Chairman T H Narayanagowda said that compared to other districts the awareness among consumers  in the city is high.

He said that the consumer court is disposing cases within a short period of time.

When a person in the audience complained that many of the shops were failing to keep the weighing machines near the counters and trying to cheat people.

Assistant Controller, Department of Weights and Measurements, Thimmarayappa said that immediate action will be taken against such shops.

Speaking on the occasion, District Government Public Prosecutor S Shivanna said that due to the lack of honesty among many people, many cases of harassment are also appearing in the consumer courts.

An exhibition for school students displaying the various weights and measurements was also held.

Number for complaints

Assistant Controller, Department of Weights and Measurements, Thimmarayappa said that if anybody doubts that a shopkeeper is duping the customers by using faulty weights, can call the department on 2479170.