Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Know your rights, consumers told

Staff Reporter

Rally, meetings, seminar mark World Consumer Rights Day

KING'S DAY: School students at a rally organised in Salem on Wednesday to create awareness on consumer rights. - Photo: P. Goutham

SALEM: Consumer organisations in the city organised awareness rallies and programmes on Wednesday to mark the World Consumer Rights Day.

The Federation of Associations of Consumer and Environment in Tamil Nadu organised a programme at the Old Bus Stand to spread awareness among people about the Right to Information Act 2005.

Handbills distributed

Handbills carrying the details of the Act was distributed. "People are very reluctant to approach government offices and seek the required information. And government officials are also not cooperating with the people. Hence, the Centre had passed the Right to Information Act aiming to ensure transparency and accountability in government departments. The Act facilitates every citizen in the country to get the required information from government departments," the federation president, A. Ashokan, said.

Except information relating to national security and science and technology, people could ask for any details from government departments.

Fee details

A person who was seeking information had to pay Rs. 10 as fee if it was a Union Government office and Rs. 50 if it was a State Government office. People listed below poverty line were exempted from paying the fee. The officials should provide information sought by a person within 30 days. The officials would be fined if they failed to provide information within the specified time. "But it is in the hands of public to make use of the Act. The federation is trying to educate people about this act," Mr. Ashokan said. M.K. Kandasamy of the Consumer and Human Rights Protection Council, Ayodhyapattinam panchayat union received the first copy of the handbill. Secretary of Consumer Welfare Council P.G. Vidhyasagar and others spoke at street corner meetings on consumer awareness.

The Tamil Nadu Consumer Vigilance Council, in association with the District Revenue Department and Vysya College, organised a rally in city. Students from various schools, government officials and members of self-help groups participated in the rally. Salem, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts Consumer Court judge P. Kuppusamy, flagged off the rally. Later, he inaugurated a consumer awareness seminar at the Vysya College and released a guide on consumer awareness.

Council chairman S. Selvam presided over the seminar. College Correspondent J. Rajendra Prasad was present.

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