The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Divakaran: consumer awareness key to corruption-free society

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Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008
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Divakaran: consumer awareness key to corruption-free society

Special Correspondent

Inaugurates district-level consumer club scheme

– Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Educating consumers: Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran arriving for the inauguration of the district-level consumer club scheme at Fort Mission Girls’ High School in the city on Tuesday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs C. Divakaran has stressed the role of consumer awareness in rooting out corruption from society.

Speaking after inaugurating the district-level consumer club scheme supported by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs here on Tuesday, he said educating consumers about their rights was crucial to the creation of a corruption- free society.

Mr. Divakaran said children could be equipped to convey awareness about consumer laws to society at large.

As many as 28 consumer clubs sanctioned for the Thiruvananthapuram Jilla Upabhoktru Samithi were inaugurated in the first phase of the programme.

V. Surendran Pillai, MLA, presided over the inaugural function. Ward councillor P. Rajendra Das, District Supply Officer S. Sreelatha, secretary of the Samithi D. Venugopal, school headmistress Elizabeth Isaac and Parent-Teacher Association president X. Selvanesan were present.

The consumer club scheme is designed to impart practical training for students in protection of consumer rights.

The Union government will give each consumer club an annual grant of Rs.10,000 for three years.

A coordinating agency will monitor the activities of the clubs, provide resource persons and materials and manage the funds.

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