World Consumer Rights Day Workshop on e-waste

Consumer Voice, a New Delhi based non-profit organization that works to spread consumer awareness organised a workshop on Electronic Waste or e-waste in its office on 13th March 2019. This workshop was part of World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) which is celebrated on 15th March every year. The theme of WCRD 2020 was ‘Sustainable Consumer’. Like a trustworthy whistle-blower on the matter related to consumer education and awareness, the focus of the workshop was on educating consumers on responsible e-waste disposal.

Ashim Sanyal, COO at Consumer VOICE introduced the subject to the gathering and shared his views on the same. Satish Sinha, Associate Director at Toxics Link addressed the gathering of professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Mr Sinha spoke on the lack of responsible e-waste disposal in our country and the right to repair our electronic gadgets among others. He said India is unlike the other countries where consumers enjoy the #righttorepair. A consumer in those countries can go to the manufacturers and ask for a certain product to get repaired. In India, he cited the example of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) industry in particular due to whom the consumer after using a car or certain electronic product for certain years, can’t repair such products when the need appears. In most of the cases, the manufacturer shows the non-availability of spare parts. In such a scenario, the consumer facing such a situation compels to buy a new product instead of getting the product repaired. One can very well understand how this results in the accumulation of e-waste.

Likewise, mobile manufacturing companies are also responsible for not encouraging consumers on using repaired products, rather they encourage consumers to buy new products.

Sinha also spoke about how the CFL light manufacturing industry was using mercury in the CFL lights in India. Sinha cited the examples of several developed countries where they have a stringent regulation of using only 5 ml mercury per CFL light. Here in India, the mercury usage was much higher at around 15-20 liter per CFL. However, the scenario is much better now with adequate intervention.

Elaborating the need for sustainable consumption Sinha said, “As a responsible consumer we all have to contribute towards responsible disposal of e-waste and demand for the rights which are not in existence particularly in India such as the right to repair. He also stressed the need for regulation to tackle the problem of e-waste disposal thus contributing towards a sustainable future.”

Safer Cars in India | Consumer VOICE Initiative

OVERVIEW

Safer Cars in India is an initiative of Consumer VOICE as part of a global campaign for safer cars by Consumers International. Consumer VOICE organized 15 workshops in the months of June and July, 2017, across India to demand for safer cars for consumers in India. The pan-India campaign took place across 15 states from Jammu and Himachal Pradesh to Assam and Odisha which was aimed to reach out to over 5000 consumers.

CAMPAIGN FOCUS

When the world is making a shift to automated cars, Indian cars still lack in basic safety features like airbags, Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ECS). In order to demand for safer cars in India, Consumer VOICE organized workshops across India with the following objectives:

•  To educate consumers on Car Safety aspects to create a demand of basic car safety features in all models introduced.
•  To create a platform where ‘Voices’ across states will emerge to put pressure on Government and manufacturers to incorporate safety features.
• To create awareness across states on the subject matter among masses through target audience, VCO’s and media.
• To put pressure on manufacturers to stick to timelines for introduction of safety features.

STRATEGY

All of the consumer empowerment workshops started with a five minute film highlighting the real experiences of car crash victims, their relatives, and the trauma they have gone through and message they want to convey to all the
consumers, manufacturers and Government.Presentations were made by road safety experts, automobile experts and educated consumers on various road safety aspects and the need for safer cars. Throwing some light on the alarming figures on road traffic crashes,

Mr. Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE, during one of the workshops said,

“As per Indian Government figures, approximately 146,133 people were killed in road accidents in 2015 alone – averaging an alarming 1,374 crashes per day. Apart from reckless driving, a crucial component to road safety is safer vehicles on our roads. The worrisome part is that, despite being the world’s 4th largest automobile market, almost 60% of the cars sold in India aren’t equipped with basic safety features such as airbags and ABS, which can protect lives of car occupants in a crash." He further elaborated on the issue of safer cars as 5 popular Indian cars received a zero-star rating in GNCAP results. Zero-rated cars being bought and sold in India is a cause of concern often overlooked.”

IMPACT

• Government officials from Traffic Police, and Road Safety joined the workshops and addressed the audience on various road safety aspects.
•  Experts from Road Safety, Automobile Sector came forward and joined the workshops to impart education to target audience about safer vehicles, need to have safety devices and demand for safer vehicles in India.
•  Pressure was created by efforts from workshops on manufacturers and Government.

MEDIA REITERATES OUR EFFORTS

⇨ Global road safety initiative

Feb 5, 2018 | The Tribune

The Drug De-addiction Society of the Government College of Commerce… Read more

⇨ Vehicle makers, govt agencies urged to focus on road safety

Jan 2, 2018 | The Hindu

Consumer education on vehicle safety requires greater involvement of vehicle makers… Read more