Road accidents have claimed more lives than the pandemic

Road accidents have claimed more lives than the pandemic

Road accidents have claimed more lives than the pandemic

BY ASHIM SANYAL, COO CONSUMER VOICE

Claiming the road accident situation in India to be more precarious than the “dangerous COVID-19 pandemic”, MoRTH Minister, Mr Nitin Gadkari in a recent press conference said that India could save upto Rs 90 lakh per person by preventing deaths and reducing injuries to minor ones in such incidents.

Every year India loses more than 1.4 lakh people due to road-crashes with more than 60% of them being in the age-group 15-34 years as per Indian Central Government. The country has the worst road safety records in the world with over 450,000 people also getting injured in road crashes every year.

Among the various reasons for road accidents, one of the main causes in India is speed. Therefore this year’s theme in the recently concluded UN Road Safety Week, Streets for Life #Love30’ is a constant reminder for motorists in India to drive safely and within speed limits. Low speed streets save lives and are the heart of communities with a global call for 30 km/h (20 mph) speed limits to be the norm for cities, towns and villages worldwide. The Action Plan will also reflect the Stockholm Declaration’s encouragement of policies to promote walking, cycling and the use of public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally friendly modes of transport.

The UN Global Road Safety Week which is celebrated year reaffirms our firmness to the resolutions passed in all countries to make roads safer for all travelers which prevents road casualties.  

National Road Safety Policy

Based on the recommendations of Sunder Committee, the Union Cabinet approved National Road Safety Policy on March 2010. The National Road Safety Policy outlines the policy initiatives to be framed / taken by the Government at all levels to improve the road safety activities in the country. Under this, the Government would increase its efforts to promote awareness about the various aspects of road safety, the social and economic implications of road accidents and what needs to be done to curb the rising menace of road accidents. This would enable and empower the different stakeholders to play a meaningful role in promoting road safety.

Motor Vehicle Amendment Act 2019

Keeping the Policy in mind, the present government came up with the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act 2019 which got the President’s assent on 1st September 2019 after being passed by both houses of Parliament. Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 is being implemented in the country since September 1, 2019. This new act has increased fine for many offence to check the road accidents and improve the road safety in the country.  It proposes stricter provisions for offences such as drunken driving, juvenile driving, driving without license, over-speeding, dangerous driving and overloading. It also proposes stricter provisions for driving without helmets. It will act as a deterrent to offenders. 

National Road Safety Board

The Bill provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the central government through a notification.  The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management including: (i) standards of motor vehicles, (ii) registration and licensing of vehicles, (iii) standards for road safety, and (iv) promotion of new vehicle technology.

Road- transport and law & order comes under the state list

Since, road- transport and law & order comes under the state list of subjects in the Constitution and the newly amended Act is a model Act that needs to be adopted by states in accordance with the specific requirements and prevailing circumstances. Many states are taking time to adopt it fully or with changes. There may be some states that may not adopt the model Act but then the principle of federalism does provide this much room or space to steer their respective ships of governance. But in order to save lives and injuries, it would be unfortunate if the central government were to issue a whip forcing states to adopt the central law. The central government has issued advisory to all states to adopt the MVA2019 and implement the same besides it’s rigorous enforcement.

Road safety is all about allocating resources, developing safer road models, adopting scientific road designs, push for the golden hour good Samaritans, develop safer pedestrian and cyclists paths, penalize the violators stringently, use electronic signals and cams, depute officials for on – road management systems, identify and rectify black holes, educate all road users and many more. 

It’s a humongous task before us and adoption of global best practices will be a welcome decision. We have to showcase lives on road and not corpses and injuries.

For other articles by Consumer VOICE COO’s Desk, click here

How has Coronavirus impacted the Indian Economy

How has Coronavirus impacted the Indian Economy

How has Coronavirus impacted the Indian Economy

BY ASHIM SANYAL, COO CONSUMER VOICE

As I sit down to write, there are reports of more than 3.68 lakh fresh corona cases in India in the last 24 hours and 10 states account for 73.78% of the new cases registered. This is likely to slow down India’s economic recovery, but the overall impact will be milder in comparison to last year’s devastation. Experts say that the extent of economic loss during the second wave will primarily depend on how fast the chain of infections can be broken. Although most economists indicate that the impact of the second wave on the economy will not be as harsh as last year, there are several risks that can derail the economy. Some of them are rising income inequality, unemployment, sectoral impact, consumer confidence and inflation.

According to a research conducted by Hong Kong-based brokerage firm CLSA, the second wave of corona virus is likely to peak only in June. The prediction is based on an analysis of 12 countries including the US, Brazil, and the UK which faced a strong resurgence of Covid-19. CLSA found that the second waves in these countries peaked when incremental cases had hit the median of 2% of the population.

Local-level restrictions reasons for economic stress 

Several indicators show that India’s economy is already feeling the stress of the ongoing deadly pandemic wave. While some of this impact is due to local-level restrictions that some state governments have imposed, others are because citizens are choosing to stay indoors. As per Apple’s driving index, which is compiled monthly on the basis of the number of requests made on Apple Maps for directions, Indians across major cities are commuting far lesser in April than in the previous three months.

The stress level even among the people who are not infected is on the rise. Everywhere there are daily health anxieties, deaths, increasing unemployment, isolation resulting in feelings of frustration and anger. While there is stress, people adopted various strategies to cope with the effects of the pandemic. In every market, consumers are the drivers of the market competitiveness, growth and economic integration. With economic instability, consumers are also experiencing a transformation in behaviour, though how much of transformation experienced during the crisis will sustain is a question.  The most important factors which model the consumer’s behaviour in crisis are risk attitude and risk perception. Risk attitude reflects consumer’s interpretation concerning the risk content and how much he or she dislikes the content of that risk. 

Online Shopping takes over the stage

In a matter of days there is a high level of dexterity and comfort in online shopping across the board. it is possible that people will reconsider venturing into public domains such as shopping malls and movie theatres with the same carefree and reckless gusto as before.  Consumer behavior is influenced deeply by cultural factors. We are a social community with a high need for group activities – travel, tourism, shopping, religion, and entertainment. However Covid lockdowns have changed our mindsets and it’s a safety first approach. Also economists are worried that the cost due to the ongoing public health crisis can be one of the reasons behind the sharp rise in inflation shrinking the pockets of the consumers.  

During the pandemic, people are spending less of their income on items perceived as nice-to-have or non-essential (such as clothing, shoes, make-up, jewellery, games and electronics). Globally too, during COVID-19, the developed nations are shifting towards steady state purchasing post-stock piling. Lower-income and younger consumers show a higher propensity to plan to reduce their spending, while older and higher-income groups exhibit more resilience. 

The hospitality, tourism and entertainment sectors have been hit hard during the second wave. Pressure is mounting on other sectors like consumer durables, aviation and real estate as well. Most of these sectors have seen a reduction in business activity as consumer confidence has taken a knock due to the second wave. People are worried about their savings, jobs and health as the second wave rages on. Experts said that weak consumer confidence can hurt India’s economy as reluctance to spend on discretionary items could lower demand.

Evolving market for Consumers 

The COVID -19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the world as we know it. People are living differently, buying differently and, in many ways, thinking differently. Supply chains have been tested . Retailers are closing doors. Consumers across the globe are looking at products and brands through a new lens. New habits formed now will endure beyond this crisis, permanently changing what we value; how and where we shop; and how we live and work. So consumers of all strata, across regions and states, beyond income levels are looking confused. The evolving market place is creating more puzzles than solutions as life and death are bigger priorities for consumers. Survive today for maybe a better tomorrow sees the consumers withdrawing their hands from their pocket. So practically, consumers are living a day to day life amidst chaos, confusion, hospitalization, deaths and hanging on the footboard with a sense of hapless feelings.

For other articles by Consumer VOICE COO’s Desk, click here

National Consumer Day 2020 – Time for consumers to awake and arise

National Consumer Day 2020 – Time for consumers to awake and arise

National Consumer Day 2020 – Time for consumers to awake and arise

BY ASHIM SANYAL, COO CONSUMER VOICE

Every year 24th December is observed as National Consumer Day in India with a specific theme. On this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 had received the assent of the President.

The enactment of this Act is considered as a historic milestone in the consumer movement in the country.

This day provides an opportunity for individuals to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer aware of their rights and responsibilities.

This year the theme of National Consumer Day isThe Sustainable Consumer’We need drastic action to address the global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The decade of the 2020s is our last chance to limit global warming since pre-industrial times, in line with the Paris Agreement and to reverse the current trend of wide-scale biodiversity loss.The consumer movement should highlight the lifestyle changes consumers can make to play their part, and what governments and businesses need to do to make sustainability the easy choice for consumers.

The Consumer Protection Act 2019 is in force from 20th July 2020. The Act will empower consumers and help them in protecting their rights through its various notified rules and provisions like Consumer Protection Councils, Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, Mediation, Product Liability and punishment for manufacture or sale of products containing adulterant / spurious goods.

The Act includes establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.  The CCPA will be empowered to conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints / prosecution, order recall of unsafe goods and services, order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements, impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements.

Under this act every e-commerce entity is required to provide information relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal mechanism, payment methods, security of payment methods, charge-back options, etc. including country of origin which are necessary for enabling the consumer to make an informed decision at the pre-purchase stage on its platform.  The e-commerce platforms also need to acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within forty-eight hours and redress the complaint within one month from the date of receipt under this Act.

The Act introduces the concept of product liability and brings within its scope, the product manufacturer, product service provider and product seller, for any claim for compensation.

The Act provides for simplifying the consumer dispute adjudication process in the consumer commissions, which include, among others,  empowerment of the State and District Commissions to review their own orders, enabling a consumer to file complaints electronically and file complaints in consumer Commissions that have jurisdiction over the place of his residence, videoconferencing for hearing and deemed admissibility of complaints if the question of admissibility is not decided within the specified period of 21 days.

An Alternate Dispute Resolution mechanism of mediation has been provided in the new Act. This will simplify the adjudication process.  A complaint will be referred by a Consumer Commission for mediation, wherever scope for early settlement exists and parties agree for it. Mediation will be held in the Mediation Cells to be established under the aegis of the Consumer Commissions.  There will be no appeal against settlement through mediation.

As per the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission rules, there will be no fee for filing cases upto Rs. 5 lakh. The CCPA may impose a penalty on a manufacturer or an endorser of up to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment for up to two years for a false or misleading advertisement.  In case of a subsequent offence, the fine may extend to Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment of up to five years.

Consumer VOICE wishes all citizens an eventful National Consumer Day 2020 under the new strong Act and hopes that many consumers will join us in also celebrating the International Consumer Rights Day on 15th March 2021. Let’s pledge to make consumers’ voices heard !

For other articles by Consumer VOICE COO’s Desk, click here

Light of Hope for Consumers

Light of Hope for Consumers

Light of Hope for Consumers

Consumers
BY ASHIM SANYAL, COO CONSUMER VOICE

As we begin 2019—a year that already portends to be among the most tumultuous in memory— I certainly welcome “the coming of hope for consumers, rich or poor.”

After all, at Consumer Voice, we are in the business of hope – for better future of consumers across the globe and especially in India. Our hope for our communities of consumers and our world is the work we do each and every day for consumer protection even when they buy a matchbox or a pen.  Make no mistake, that the exploitation of our democratic-capitalist system is intentional. Too often, the powerful and privileged corporate houses have intentions of harming consumers’ privileges for petty profit motives and maximize it for their own gain. We must prevent this at all cost.

At the same time, we must set our hope in relief against the realities of a world that feels on edge and off kilter, more precarious and less predictable. The reason for all of this, in my view, should not come as a surprise: Our political and economic system continues to produce and perpetuate staggering inequalities of all kinds and consumers in most cases are at the receiving end.  And although this is our society’s truth as a developing nation, it—like all truth—is under constant assault by organizations like Consumer Voice.
 
Consumer organizations need to engage in repairing the very mechanisms that produce, preserve, and promote consumers’ privileges. I believe we must practice a better vision of advocacy, one that improves itself and the societies / communities of which we are members thru a group chain of like- minded community fellows across India. As buyers, we should not distinguish between poor and the rich. Undue enrichment of the producers and sellers should be curtailed. 
 
In this way, for all of us, the road map for 2019 is clear. Given the progress we’ve made, and the work ahead, we cannot turn back now and leave our consumers in a lurch. We must redouble our efforts and forge forward, boldly, courageously and joyfully celebrate the victory of consumers against all odds. We have to dedicate ourselves to a more intense battle and consumers got to have faith in our interventions, efforts, advocacy and balancing the market. A task that will always remain unfulfilled but progress has to be made with dedication and commitments.

For other articles by Consumer VOICE COO’s Desk, click here

Is Artificial Intelligence a friend or foe?

Is Artificial Intelligence a friend or foe?

Is Artificial Intelligence a friend or foe?

artificial-intelligence
BY ASHIM SANYAL, COO CONSUMER VOICE

I remember the first day when my son brought home his dream robot assistant Alexa. In fact it was a parting gift from his former company. Being an engineer he sat for a week to set the backend coding of Alexa to suit his requirements. Lo and behold, everything in his room was controlled by Alexa on his command- lights, fans, taps, coffee maker, music, news etc. This was astounding for us and he was proud !

But the point is, are we ready for artificial intelligence (AI)?  Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a friend or foe? To me it looked like a very disturbing convenience attachment and as AI becomes increasingly embedded in our society, it will change how we work and live. If we look around, much like this, artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI, ML) and robotics technologies are silently but increasingly automating work tasks. Some of it is already in use.

Email comes with filters and smart replies; maps and ride sharing apps use AI in route planning and pricing; online retailers use AI to understand your preferences and buying habits so they personalize your shopping experience. Music streaming sites provide AI-curated personalized playlists, and the 24-hour customer helpdesks to motor navigations, ticketing for any purpose is backend algorithm based and so on. The entire E commerce industry is totally dependent on AI platforms except the last mile delivery.

There is no doubt AI will transform society but there is a big need to safeguard against improper use. Putting fears to rest tech guru Sebastian Thrun, CEO, Kitty Hawk Corp and co-founder Udacity said, “AI is not made to replace people, but augment people. Much like mobile phones have done for us”. Most people, fearing job losses to AI and machines will be quick to say AI is the enemy, something to worry about as it will take away jobs and machines will take over the world. Sure, AI will make us efficient, but fears of job losses are genuine. It will surely replace maybe menial jobs but produce many more for the tech field. Very much like what computers or mobiles did.

Besides the productivity and efficiency advantages, AI brings in, there is also the moral dimension of machines smart enough to make decisions. Machine learning algorithms are building personality profiles on every human being. AI algorithms can learn your behavior, and before you know it, they know you better than you know yourself. This is a dominant player in disruptive technology.

In a developing country like India, most people, fearing job losses to AI and machines will be quick to say AI is the enemy, something to worry about as it will take away jobs and machines will take over the world. AI is picking up patterns—be it driving cars, detecting cancers or selling products – and helping novices get better, reemphasizes Thrun. In one of India’s mega event of spiritual gathering in Prayag, Uttar Pradesh which ends on 21st March after a month, a million visitors a day and over half a million staying it was clear that AI has played an important role in maintaining security, discipline, admin efficiency, peace and threat perceptions. But obviously AI driven drones are omnipresent.

All this is surely a subject of a much larger debate where on one hand AI is much needed for progress and on the other side it can play havoc if in wrong hands! In any case it’s now time to get adjusted to this disruptive game changer.

For other articles by Consumer VOICE COO’s Desk, click here

It’s time for consumers to wake up from their deep slumber!

It’s time for consumers to wake up from their deep slumber!

It’s time for consumers to wake up from their deep slumber!

power to consumer
BY ASHIM SANYAL, COO CONSUMER VOICE

Arise and awake consumers ! Something we all have been hearing since the last 3 decades or more! This is true for most of the developing nations where the businesses rule the markets and we often hear about consumers being duped either by fly by night operators or by known corporate houses. This is also true in a country like India where in 1986 the Consumer Protection Bill was passed. Kudos to those who could envisage the need for consumer protection in a then “controlled economy”.

We have come a long way since then. Markets have opened up, world class products are being offered, MNCs setting up offices in India, E commerce platforms making waves, and large multi brand retails have set up businesses in India. The missing element in all these developments is involvement and participation of consumers to make the market place a balanced playing field. Proactive and reactive consumer actions have seen globally markets evolve into a “need based” respected zone where both the businesses and consumers realize that we need each other.

Alas, the Indian markets have been subjected to cruel consumer sufferings with little respite even from known brands. The dual and deceptive policies the corporate houses have for the Indian markets are obvious and omnipresent. One prime cause is sleeping consumers who don’t even want to understand their rights under the constitution bolstered by CPA of 1986. One argument is that it’s a poor man’s economy but this can’t hold water under current economic conditions with a rising middle class and young buyers. This is the very reason that world brands and corporate houses are making a beeline to India.

So the need of the hour is to set up mechanisms that work to punish the market culprits. Very obviously this is the government’s job as by merely awakening consumers one is flooding the consumer and civil courts with no respite for years. The much awaited Consumer Protection Amendment draft Bill 2018 which is languishing in the parliament provides some ready answers as a carefully thought out regulation. But obviously it would need a push by asserting consumers who express their disappointment with the delay and press hard for its immediate passage once the new government is formed.

Consumer Voice has petitioned for its early passage and consumers can participate in urging the government for attention. Through the given link one can add to the growing number of consumers who can be catalyst for this major development. Urging all to sign the petition, so that consumers can’t be overlooked or defrauded in the market place. Add your muscle to the movement.

For other articles by Consumer VOICE COO’s Desk, click here

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