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State Level Consultation for Sensitization of Stakeholders to Mandate the Strict Implementation of Vendor Licensing in Goa

by admin | Nov 22, 2019 | Tobacco

State Level Consultation for Sensitization of Stakeholders to Mandate the Strict Implementation of Vendor Licensing in Goa

Consumer VOICE in collaboration with National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) Goa organised a stakeholders’ consultation at Conference Hall, Manipal Hospitals, Goa on November 1, 2019. The main objective of the event was to discuss the implementation of the Government of Goa’s policy on mandating licensing for vendors selling tobacco.In the welcome address, the President of NOTE Dr.Shekhar Salkar, gave an overview of the tobacco control measures implemented in the state of Goa. He thanked the Goa Government for issuing the order on vendor licensing. He also called ULBs (Urban Local Bodies) to implement it in letter and spirit for saving lives of future generations.

Further, Shri Amarjeet Singh, Advisor Legal, Consumer VOICE, gave a presentation on tobacco vendor licensing and told “Our recent study pointed that the density of tobacco vendors is too high even in residential areas as we found 198 tobacco point of sale in 2 areas of Goa. We observed several violation of COTPA at PoS (Point of Sale).” The Vendor licensing order issued by Department of Urban Development can be very effective in tobacco control.

Shri Uday Madkaikar Mayor-City Corporation Panaji said, we will take all necessary action for the effective implementation of Vendor Licensing. Shri Sanjit Rodrigues-Commissioner of Corporation of the City of Panaji, stated “I will personally initiate a meeting with all stake holders to ensure that vendor licensing is being strictly adhered to in strategic areas like schools etc.” Dr. Jose De Sa-Directorate of Health Services [DHS] Govt of Goa, another chief guest of the event said that the public health department is working out a strategy to control and prevent tobacco-related deaths by adopting service, educational and regulation approach.

The other key speakers of the event were Shri Pramod Acharya , Anchor-Prudent TV Shri Sanyof Kudlakar, Senior Food Safety Officer FDA.

The programme was also attended by more than 50 health experts, doctors from Directorate of Health Services[ DHS] Govt of Goa, Food and Drugs Inspectors from Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration, Police Inspectors and Sub Inspectors from Goa Police department, tobacco control activists, print and electronic media, civil society activists etc.

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Green Action Week Workshop in Vivek Vihar and Ghaziabad

by admin | Nov 6, 2019 | Green Action Week

Green Action Week Workshop in Vivek Vihar and Ghaziabad

As part of Green Action Week, on the theme of sharing community, Consumer VOICE organised an event on 31st October 2019 with the residents of Vivek Vihar and Ghaziabad (NCR). The residents joined hands by planting air purifying plants and trees to contribute towards clean air for all campaign activities.

Vivek Vihar and Ghaziabad are some of the worst polluted areas in Delhi/NCR. The residents of the region reel under severe pollution and therefore the residents decided to take the fight in their hands through ‘Community Sharing’.

Women participants shared their experiences on green practices and working together in the community. They enthusiastically participated in the planting activities and decided to involve their kids in environmental friendly activities.

Ms.Rinki Sharma,Head Projects Consumer Voice addressed the gathering along with Shri Virender Rawat from the society association.

Participants were sensitized on the problem of air pollution and how joint efforts can contribute towards the solution. There were discussions on green practices such as using compost pit ,discarding single use plastic from everyday life, pooling for vehicles and adopting a healthy way of life etc. Participants appreciated the efforts of Consumer VOICE where they can work together and learn from each other.

Stakeholders Consultation in Assam to adopt new rules of Motor Vehicles Act 2019 to strengthen road safety

by admin | Oct 11, 2019 | Global Road Safety Initiative

Stakeholders Consultation in Assam to adopt new rules of Motor Vehicles Act 2019 to strengthen road safety

Consumer Legal Protection Forum with support from Consumer VOICE, New Delhi organized a stakeholder workshop at hotel Aarian Atithya, Guwahati-Assam on 6 September 2019. The main objective of the workshop was to strengthen the road safety aspects of MVA 2019.Recently the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019 has been passed with the approval of the President of India. This amendment aims to make Indian roads safer, reduce corruption and use technology to overhaul the country’s transportation system. The next step is to frame the Motor Vehicle Rules by Central and State governments to implement the amended law for improving road safety.

The consultation was inaugurated by Shri Ashim Sanyal, Chief Operating Officer Consumer VOICE with an introductory message on road safety. He highlighted the salient features of New Motor Vehicles Act 2019 and various comparable amendments related to road safety.

He said “The amendment Act will help to reduce road fatalities and injuries with the stringent penalties / other provisions and change the road habits of citizens who are breaking the rules. We urge the Assam government to include the new rules of MVA 2019 in the Assam Motor vehicle rules.”

The workshop was attended by various stakeholders including Shri Prasanta Saikia, DCP (Traffic), Commissioner of Police-Guwahati, Shri Gautam Das, District Transport Officer- Kamrup (R), Shri Joysing Rongphar, MVI, Kamrup and Bikram Gogoi, Enforcement Inspector . All distinguished guests expressed their views on the present road safety scenario in the state and welcomed the new act.

Shri Gautam Das District Transport Officer- Kamrup welcomed the new rules and said, “Our state is following the Central government MVA 1988 and also have Assam Motor Vehicles Rules 2003 which also includes the main risk factors of road safety. We will follow and include the new amended rules by MVA 2019 to make stringent enforcements”.

“In the last six months in Assam around 2,359 accidents occurred in which 1,980 people were injured and 928 lost their life. It’s time to take the new rules amended in Motor Vehicles Act 2019 to make police and transport departments enforcement drives more effective to prevent casualties adds District Transport Officer Das. His juniors also presented their positive viewpoints.

The consultation mainly focused on the six vital pillars of road safety (Speed, Helmet, Drunk-Driving, Mobile using while driving, Child Restraints,) which are seen as the best global practice to reduce road casualties. ”Ms. Rinki Sharma –Head Projects, Consumer VOICE presents details about six pillars of road safety and new provisions in amended laws etc.

Shri Ajoy Hazarika, Secretary, Consumer Legal Protection Forum also presented his views on adoption of the new Motor Vehicles Act to improve road safety measures in the state.

The programme was attended by around 40 people from transport department, traffic police department, civil societies, students and lawyers communities .

Later there was a meeting held with a Transport Commissioner- Shri Virender Mittal Transport Secretary, Shri Razvee Hussain Transport Joint Secretary Shri S. Ahmed where Shri Ashim Sanyal and Ms.Rinki Sharma handed over a memorandum mentioning to adopt the new rules in the state Motor Vehicles Act.

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Stakeholders’ Consultation on Road Safety

by admin | Oct 1, 2019 | Global Road Safety Initiative

Stakeholders’ Consultation on Road Safety

In order to strengthen road safety, Consumer VOICE in association with its state partners of Lucknow, Guwahati and Chandigarh organized stakeholders’ consultation in these cities. The six pillars of road safety were stressed in all the consultations which help in reducing road accidents.

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Consumer VOICE along with its state partner Consumer Guild organised a stakeholder’s consultation to strengthen road safety in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 19th Sep 2019. Purendra Singh, SP, Traffic was the chief guest of the programme. He welcomed the amended act and sought cooperation from all the road users for effective implementation. Vidisha Singh, regional transport officer (enforcement), welcomed the act and told that in Uttar Pradesh road safety cell is dedicated towards meeting the objective. She further said, the state government is taking road safety seriously and working towards reduction in crashes.

Deepak Nigam, a retired district additional judge appreciated the efforts taken up by the Supreme Court committee. The event consultation mainly focused on the six vital pillars of road safety which are seen as the best global practice to reduce road casualties. Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE presented the salient features of the new Act and discussed various comparable amendments related to road safety. Abhishek Shrivastava, chairperson, Consumers Guild appealed to all to cooperate for effective implementation of the amended act to save precious lives lost in crashes. The event was well attended by relevant officials, communities and garnered good media coverage also.

Guwahati, Assam

In Guwahati, Assam a stakeholder’s consultation was organized on 6th September by Consumer Legal Protection Forum supported by Consumer VOICE. Prasanta Saikia, DCP-Traffic, commissionerate of Police, Guwahati, Gautam Das, district transport officer, Kamrup (R), Joysing Rongphar, MVI, Kamrup and Bikram Gogoi, enforcement inspector, were present. They expressed their views on the present road safety scenario and welcomed the new act. Commenting on the issue, Das said, “We were following the Central Government MVA 1988 and also have Assam Motor Vehicles Rules 2003 which also includes the major road safety risk factors. We will follow and include the new amended rules by MVA 2019 to make stringent enforcements.”

The consultation mainly focused on the six vital pillars of road safety which are seen as the best global practice to reduce road casualties. Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE presented the salient features of the new Act and discussed various comparable amendments related to road safety. Rinki Sharma from Consumer VOICE team shared details about six pillars of road safety and new provisions, amended laws etc. Ajoy Hazarika, secretary, Consumer Legal Protection Forum also shared thoughts on the quick adoption of the new Act. Representatives of consumer organizations, police officials and traffic police officials, media persons and organizations working on road safety participated in the consultation. This initiative was also lauded by all relevant stakeholders and the event received very good media coverage.

Chandigarh

Consumer VOICE along with its state partner Citizen Awareness Group, Chandigarh organized a stakeholder’s consultation at Chandigarh on 30th August 2019. The stakeholders’ workshop had effectively covered the implementation of MVAA 2019 and created awareness on road safety pillars. Shri Virat, Registering and Licensing Authority of Chandigarh graced the workshop as key speaker. He welcomed the MVAA 2019 and explained various amendments related to registration and licensing. He explained that besides penalties, these clauses are also very important for road users to know.

The consultation mainly focused on the six vital pillars of road safety which are seen as the best global practice to reduce road casualties. Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE presented the salient features of the new Act and discussed various comparable amendments related to road safety. Discussion also took place on the six pillars of road safety and new provisions, amended laws etc. Surender Verma, chairperson, Consumer Legal Protection Forum also presented his thoughts on quick adoption of the new Act. Consumer VOICE and Citizen Awareness Group urged the government for speedy notification. The program was largely attended by transport and traffic police officials, students, media, CSOs and activist working on road safety. Like the other initiatives, this was also covered well by distinguished media houses.

Green Action Week 2019 – An Interactive Workshop with the Student Community

by admin | Oct 1, 2019 | Green Action Week

Green Action Week 2019 – An Interactive Workshop with the Student Community

Consumer VOICE organized an interactive workshop with more than 40 students of Soami Nagar Model School, New Delhi, as part of its Green Action Week Activities 2019. On 17^th September, 2019, the enthusiastic students with their teachers, school staff and consumer voice team members joined hands in an effort to fight air pollution in the city. A few selected students from last year’s workshop also shared their experience on the theme of ‘Sharing Community’ and their efforts to minimize air pollution.Noted environmentalist Shri Verhaen Khanna of New Delhi Nature Society along with Ms. Rinki Sharma, Head –Projects & CSR, Consumer VOICE interacted with the students and shared their experiences of planting saplings in their home which helped in purifying the air around.

An environment based quiz also was designed to increase team work and to create awareness among school children. All students participated with full enthusiasm in the quiz activity.

School Principal, Ms.Aarti Prasad encouraged the students to take care of their plants and also reminded the children of their responsibility towards the environment. She appreciated the theme of “sharing community”.

All the students learnt about taking care of plants, the importance of sustainable environment and importance of adopting practices such as avoiding plastic, utilising waste material etc.

Air purifying plants like snake plant, spider plant, ficus panda etc were planted. The workshop was an enriching one as the students enoyed the activities and took pledge to take care of the plants.

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