Rotary Club of Borivli organised a public
seminar in association with Mumbai Grahak Panchayat on consumer
awareness on Sunday
19.08.2012 from 10 am to 12.30 pm at Shri Girdharlal Munshilal Jain
Sabhagrah, Above Jain Sahakari Bank, Chamunda Circle, Borivli
(West), Mumbai.
On behalf of Rotary Club of Borivli President Mudrak
Lalaji welcomed the participants and explained that the consumer is
usually taken for granted by the businessmen but an informed
consumer can be alert as to his rights and hence this seminar has
been arranged for informing the public about their rights and also
to give practical demonstration of adulteration and how it can be
detected. He was ably supported by Director – Vocational Services,
Rtn Avinash Gujarati.
The Mumbai Grahak Panchayat was represented by their
chief Dr Ramdas Gujarati, Treasurer Shri Abhay Datar, Ad Watch Head
Smt Mangala Gadgil and Education Wing Head Jyoti Modak. Shri Datar
explained the working of the Panchayat along with a lot of case
histories of the various causes fought for by them. The Distribution
of goods at no profit no loss is their biggest activity with more
than 28000 people taking the benefit of the same.
Then the ladies showed the practical demonstration of
the adulteration. They showed how adulterated milk can be detected
by using tincture iodine. Similarly practical tips for Tea, Spices,
haldi etc were given. The audience was very responsive. Thereafter a
film of the street play on consumer rights was screened.
The floor was then thrown open for question and
answer. The audience was full of questions.
Shri Jimmy Dordi asked as to how to safeguard against
“conditions apply” that appear in very small prints with most
offers. Shri Datar clarified that the consumer has a right to ask
for all terms and conditions before accepting any offer and should
study the fine prints before signing any paper. Do not sign blank
forms without reading the same as the offer given verbally may be
different from what is written on the form. Once the form is signed
the consumer accepts the conditions given in the form and it becomes
difficult to prove the erroneous verbal assurances.
Shri Yashwant Gujaran asked as to what remedies are
available against a builder who does not fulfill his obligations to
the purchaser of a flat. Shri Datar replied that a purchaser of a
flat is a consumer and gets the protection of the Consumer
Protection Act and gave the details of the case in which they were
able to help flat-purchasers.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Rtn
Avinash Gujarati and an eagerness amongst the participants to start
taking the benefit of organized consumerism.
