MDR

MDR

by | Apr 2, 2021 | banks

Health Insurance

Consumer VOICE, launched a report highlighting the need to rationalize Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to boost digital financial inclusion. The report provides consumer and industry perspective on the government-led policy reform to implement zero MDR. The report delved upon different critical aspects of the digital payments ecosystem and suggests measures to increase the sustainability of the payments model.

Click here to read the full report

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More than 60 per cent of loose edible oil in market is adulterated: CGSI

by | Mar 26, 2021 | loose edible oil

More than 60 per cent of loose edible oil in market is adulterated: CGSI

The Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) has informed that sample tests conducted recently indicate that 64 per cent of loose edible oil sold in the market is adulterated.

“To test the quality of loose edible oil, we collected a total of 291 samples in 100 gm/ml quantity from various shops sold to consumers in plastic pouches and containers across the city,” CGSI chairman Sitaram Dixit said. He said samples of loose edible oil were sent to a designated laboratory to test for poisonous and harmful adulterants.

“All edible oil samples were checked for its iodine value and refractive index to confirm whether the oil was genuine or adulterated,” Dixit said. As per the test results, more than 64 per cent of loose edible oil like sesame oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil, mustard oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil and soyabean oil is adulterated with inexpensive palmolein.

Digital Literacy Initiative

Digital Literacy Initiative

by | Mar 25, 2021 | campaigns

Digital Literacy Initiative

OVERVIEW

The Anne Fransen Fund (AFF) of Consumers International was founded in 1988 following the death of Anne Fransen, the first director of Consumers International member organisation, Consumentenbond in 1981. The main aim of the fund is to promote and support the growth of consumer organizations in developing countries.

Consumer Voice was one of the seven Consumers International members that promoted the protection of consumers around the globe through the funding provided by the AFF2017.

Consumer VOICE trained a group of consumer activists on digital economy who will then carry the mission forward.

CAMPAIGN FOCUS

The overall objective of Digital Literacy Initiative is to empower the vulnerable consumer group on digital issues so that they may effectively explore the opportunities provided by digitally empowered knowledge economy. ‘Be safe yet be digitally empowered’, is the message that is given through the project. Some of the important goals of Digital Literacy Initiative include:

  1. To create a cadre and network of trained digital consumer activists
  2. To empower vulnerable consumer groups by imparting digital literacy
  3. To help consumers address their digital complaints
  4. Empower the trained group to reach out to others where constant help and updating from the project will be of assistance.
  5. Target a cross section of the community in a limited pilot phase and then tie up with a large corporate like Google / Microsoft / to take the initiative forward.

CHALLENGES

  • Empowering the vulnerable section who have very limited knowledge of computers, with digital tools was a challenge
  • Designing ToT modules for maximum reach across all sections

OUR STRATEGY

For the pilot project we chose National Capital Territory of Delhi which includes New Delhi and urban areas surrounding it in neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan as it is one of India’s world’s largest agglomerations, with a population of around 5 crore.  We chose the project area due to factors like the largest number of targeted consumers, lack of digital literacy, and high rate of cyber crimes. Apart from this due to our presence and strengths in NCT, there are more chances of creating maximum impact in given budget and time.

The following steps were taken to implement the project:

A WELL TRAINED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WERE CREATED THROUGH A TRAINING OF TRAINER (TOT) MODEL

A single day ToT workshop for consumer activists (30 in all) were trained on digital issues where intensive training on issues related to handling of digital devices and safe internet usage were imparted.

DEVELOPED AND DESIGNED TRAINING MODULES FOR TOT & DIGITAL LITERACY CAMPS CONSUMER

Consumer VOICE created digital literacy awareness material and dedicated pages on social media platform to maximize reach and ensure engagement of all stakeholders.

ORGANISED DIGITAL LITERACY CAMPS ACROSS DELHI NCR FOR WIDER REACH

Consumer Voice organised six Digital Literacy camps across NCR with different categories of vulnerable consumer groups such as youngsters, women, and elderly. The purpose of these camps is to make them digitally literate to boost their confidence to join the digital economy and society.

ASSISTED CONSUMERS REGISTER THEIR COMPLAINTS RELATED TO DIGITAL ISSUES

Consumer Voice helped consumers in redressal of their complaints related to digital issues. This was a continuous activity and continued even after the project duration.

Consumer VOICE implemented this project with the help of local partners for on-field activities. Government and regulatory agencies were involved to advocate for better policy decisions and strict enforcement and monitoring mechanism.

IMPACT

  • Empowered vulnerable consumers to effectively engage digitally in their daily activities
  • Formed a team of digital activists through the ToT model to carry the project forward

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

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Digital Literacy, Training of Trainers Workshop – June 29, 2017

Digital Literacy, Training of Trainers Workshop – June 29, 2017

by | Mar 24, 2021 | digital literacy initiative, Uncategorized

Digital Literacy, Training of Trainers Workshop – June 29, 2017

In continuation of Digital Literacy Initiative project activities supported by Anne Frasen Fund of Consumentonbond and Consumers International,Consumer VOICE  organized Second  Digital Literacy Workshop based on Training of Trainers model at club 26 ,Noida,Sector 27  (Uttar Pradesh) on 29th June 2017.The purpose of this workshop was  to make Consumers digitally literate and also to boost their confidence to join the digital economy and society.

In the workshop various topics were covered such as digital accessibility, how to be safe online and ensuring digital security and privacy, related legal rights and available redressal avenues etc by different speakers from Consumer VOICE Team including Shri Gopal Ravi Kumar,Shri Subas Tiwari and Shri Hemant Upadhyay and Digital Expert –Shri Agam Chaudhary.

Consumer VOICE  also distributed resource material booklet “A Smart Guide to help you became digitally literate” which has covered topics like Digital literacy for uninitiated, Digital products in Online transactions, Digital E –services ,Information Technology act, Staying safe online, E-Challenges, How to protect yourself from online frauds and Grievance redressal mechanism.

There were more than 100 participants in the workshop from various walks of life like  Consumer organizations, students, senior citizens and civil society organizations. At the end of the workshop a  question -answers session was  also arranged which went off successfully.

Consumer Complaints Lodged Before 2019 Act Will Continue Before Fora Envisioned As Per 1986 Act: Supreme Court

Consumer Complaints Lodged Before 2019 Act Will Continue Before Fora Envisioned As Per 1986 Act: Supreme Court

by | Mar 23, 2021 | Consumer Rights and Laws

Consumer Complaints Lodged Before 2019 Act Will Continue Before Fora Envisioned As Per 1986 Act: Supreme Court

The bench of Justices Dr. DY Chandrachud. and MR Shah held that the proceedings instituted before the commencement of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 on 20 July 2020 would continue before the fora corresponding to those under the Consumer Protection Act 1986 (the National Commission, State Commissions and District Commissions) and not be transferred in terms of the pecuniary jurisdiction set for the fora established under the Act of 2019. 

The decision was rendered by the Bench on 16th of March, 2020, in a plea against a decision of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) which had dismissed a case on the ground that after the enforcement of the 2019 Act, its pecuniary jurisdiction stood enhanced from Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore. The Apex Court ruled that transferring these complaints as per the pecuniary jurisdiction laid down in the new Act will impact the interests of the consumer and defeat the object of the legislation, which is to protect and promote consumer welfare. 

This significant pronouncement, which settles a widespread confusion prevailing in consumer fora across the country, came in the case Neena Aneja and others vs Jai Prakash Associates Ltd.

The 2019 Act had increased the pecuniary jurisdiction of consumer fora as follows :

District Forum :-Increased to Rs.One Crore from Rs. Twenty Lakhs.

State Commission :- Increased to Rs. Ten Crores from Rs. One Crore.

National Commission :- Above Rs. Ten Crores from Rs.One Crores.

Click here to read the full judgement

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