Out of the almost 60,000 odd complaints that reach the central government’s national consumer helpline (NCH) every month, about 36% is for e-commerce. In 2020, the national helpline received 6, 54,192 grievances of which 28.5% was e-commerce related issues. Banking, telecom, electronics products were the other major areas from which maximum complaints were generated.

Nidhi Khare, additional secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, says, “The NCH data is becoming a major source of information for the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to act upon. We are building intelligence into the complaints that we receive on the national consumer helpline where people are raising all kinds of issues. We then see if there is any pattern where people from different parts of the country are making similar complaints about one product or one policy, and if there is ground for class action, we initiate investigations.” Khare is also the chief commissioner of CCPA.

The CCPA was established under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. It came into force from July 20, 2020. The main aim of the CCPA is to uphold, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class. It also has the authority to conduct investigations into the violation of consumer rights. Other duties include institution of complaints, prosecution, recall of unsafe goods and services, order discontinuation of unfair trade practices. It also takes action against misleading advertisements and impose penalties on manufacturers, endorsers and publishers of misleading advertisements.

Recently in March, CCPA had asked GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare Ltd to withdraw the advertisements of Sensodyne products that claimed to be “recommended by dentists worldwide” and “world’s No.1 sensitivity toothpaste”. In yet another example of CCPA’s vigilance, it has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on eyewear manufacturer Sure Vision India for a misleading advertisement and directed it to discontinue the commercial. Sure Vision claimed its products improved eyesight naturally and eliminated eye strain. The CCPA initiated action after it received a complaint against the firm, and directed the Director General (Investigation) to investigate the claims made by the company in the advertisement. So, we know that consumers complaints are taken very seriously and they are working tirelessly to lessen those too.

I hope you have loved reading about this topic, which concerns all of us as consumers. In the meantime, keep reading the articles we have brought you this month. We have FSSAI CEO’S article on EatSmart Cities Challenge, a discussion on mutual funds investing, selecting the best diabetic care food and many more. Do share your thoughts at info@consumer-voice.org.

Until then, happy reading!

Pallabi Boruah

Editor

 

 

The Finance Bill 2022 presented by India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 announced measures for a number of sectors. It aimed at boosting growth amidst growing inflation added with the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic. PM Modi hailed the budget, calling it progressive and people friendly. He added that it has brought new confidence to usher development in the midst of the pandemic. He was also sure that this budget will create many new opportunities for the common people, besides strengthening the economy. However, how has the Budget 2022 impacted the common man and the middle class? Let us have a look. The budget has given emphasis on the rural sector, MSMEs and various economically vulnerable sections of society. The emphasis on rural infrastructure is also in evidence from the allocation of Rs. 60K crore for the tap water scheme. There is a major boost to housing as PM Awaas Yojna allocation has been increased by 75%, to Rs. 48K crore. Economist and columnist, Swaminathan Aiyar, appraises this budget as a quick fix remedy for the fast track of growth amid the devastations of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the high fiscal deficit of 6.9 percent. Prior to budget session, people were anticipating a change in personal income tax rates. However, the Finance Minister did not change the income tax slabs for the financial year 2022-23. She also did not raise standard deduction, which stands at Rs. 50,000. The Executive Chairperson of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw opined that the middle class is severely disappointed with the budget for sure. However, many experts hailed the infrastructure push and thrust on manufacturing as well as MSMEs in the budget while others criticized it for lack of adequate measures for agriculture and healthcare sectors. As a popular opinion, giving tax benefits to the middle classes or by giving direct income support to the poor would have been more helpful. What is your view on this? There are pros and cons to every budget and not everyone will agree on everything. In the meantime, keep reading the articles we have brought you this month. We have FSSAI CEO’S article on food testing, discussion on vegan meat, selecting the best BLDC ceiling fans and many more. Do share your thoughts at info@consumer-voice.org. Until then, happy reading Pallabi Boruah Editor

When we just thought we are in the endemic stage and the worst is over, we’ve variant, Omicron now. It has hit the world. India too has reported 21 cases so far including 7 in Jaipur, 1 in Delhi, 11 in Maharashtra and 2 in Karnataka as I write this piece. I’m sure the number would have increased many times by the time you read the December edition of Consumer VOICE.

However, what I wanted to discuss today is different. We know how devastating the pandemic impact was for all of us. We lost lives, our loved ones, jobs and livelihoods. Likewise, the majority of Indian students are still in a disdain state as they are unable to access education. And amid these scars, the pandemic has made us more obese, hypertensive, and prone to diabetes if we look at the data revealed by National Family Health Survey 2019-21 (NFHS-5).  The data findings are shocking if we compare it with NFHS 2015-16 (NFHS-4) numbers.

The survey has been conducted in two phases – between June 2019 to January 2020 and then January 2020 to April 2021. Obviously, the phase two survey captured the stage more closely than the phase one survey. The survey captured the impact of the pandemic on the health parameters of the Indian population.

When we compare the NFHS-4 data with the NFHS-5 findings, we will see a steep rise in the numbers of people suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension and high blood pressure. As per the figures shared by the survey, approximately a fourth of the men and women surveyed were found to be overweight or obese having a body mass index of more than 25 kg/square metres. Precisely, 15.6% of the men and 13.5% of the women were found to have high or very high blood sugar levels or were taking medicines to control the sugar level. This is not all. The findings further added, a fifth of the women and nearly a quarter of the men surveyed had elevated blood pressure or were taking medicine to control blood pressure. Whereas, if we look at the NFHS-4 data, it had found19% of men and 21% of women to be overweight or obese.

Quite interestingly and understandably as well, the surge has been more pronounced among urban dwellers. Urban dwellers are the victims of sedentary lifestyles and their routine exercise being curtailed besides gulping down fast foods.  Hence the findings are nothing more than the harsh reality and it makes us look more at the weak points of our urban dwelling.

Coming back to the findings, it said one-third of the urban men and women surveyed were found to be overweight or obese. As much as 18% of men and 16% of women had high blood sugar levels or were taking medication for controlling it.  A quarter of urban men and women had elevated blood pressure or were taking medicine to control their blood pressure. Again the same above reasons can be attributed to this.

While all the numbers will do the talking in our discussions and headlines, can we look at a cohesive structure to tame the beast before it’s too late? Can we look at a framework where we can see regulated food systems, home exercises like yoga and consumer awareness initiatives to control hypertension, diabetes and obesity to control the health rot ? Work from home isn’t helping the cause either.

Meanwhile, read our December edition where we brought you useful information on choosing the best rice bran oil, FSSAI CEO’s column on living a trans-fat-free life, about minding Aflatoxin among others. Do write to me if you’ve any suggestions/feedback and thoughts at info@consumer-voice.org.

Till then, happy reading!

Happy Reading!

Sharmila Das
Editor

Festivals, especially Deepawali, the festival that Indians observe to celebrate the return of Ram from his 14 years of exile reminded us of the triumph of good over evil. Indians across the regions celebrate the day differently, however, the ethos across the country remains the same. This year the festival fared better in comparison to the last two years as people all across communities thronged to markets buying necessary goods, decorative pieces, sweets, gifts etc. The retail sales as claimed by different association has crossed Rs. 1.25 crore which is a record trade figure in the last 10 years on the occasion of Diwali. In Delhi alone, this business was about Rs. 25 thousand crores! This surely ended the lull period that existed in the previous years. In many ways, this Diwali was completely different from the previous years and the countrymen also celebrated the festival of Diwali with full gusto.

According to the traders’ association CAIT, this time Chinese goods were not sold at all in the markets across the country and the special emphasis of the customers was on the purchase of Indian goods. They said that by strengthening the call of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for Atmnirbhar Bharat, traders across the country celebrated Indian Diwali – Local Diwali enthusiastically across the country. Products including earthen lamps, colorful earthen diyas, different kinds of vandanwars, pendants, earthen sticks, toys made of khand, earthen sandals, candles and papermachie lamps, rangoli etc which gave substantial business to small potters, craftsmen and handicraftsmen.

On the other hand, products such as sweets, dry fruits, packed namkeen, food and packaged items, furnishing fabric, tapestries, footwear, gift items, FMCG goods, electrical and electronic items, watches, consumer products, readymade garments, textiles, series of electric bulbs, LED bulbs, home décor items etc were also in huge demand and yielded good business. Gold jewellery and silverware were purchased for more than Rs. 9000 crores, as per CAIT. While this is certainly a case of revival in terms of consumption-led economic activities in India, will this euphoria last? Will the consumption level be maintained or will it shrink? The situation that we are living in presently is cautious living and we are yet not free from the clutches of the Covid fear. Hence, the next six months are going to be very crucial. As a nation, we must not off guard our weapons against the virus while still continuing our consumption, may be albeit under control.

In the November edition of Consumer VOICE, we brought an array of interesting reads on finding out the best dairy whitener brand, best home air purifier, ASCI’s to be formed guidelines for women portrayal in advertising among others. Kindly share your thoughts at info@consumer-voice.org

Happy Reading!
Sharmila Das
Editor