Scholars most commonly view the modern consumer movement in India from two

perspectives - that of consumer activism and that of business self-regulation.[15] There is

tradition in India which says that consideration for consumer rights began in the Vedic
Period, and in these narratives, laws encourage merchants to practice honesty and integrity
in business.[15] Most discussion about India's consumer activism starts with a description of
the Indian independence movement.[15] At this time Gandhi and other leaders protested
taxation of basic consumer products, such as during the Salt March, and encouraged people
to make their own goods at home, as with the Khādī movement to promote spinning thread
and weaving one's own textiles. These actions were to raise awareness that consumer
purchase decisions fund the source of India's political control.

Gandhi promoted the idea that businesses have a trustee role in being responsible to the customers,
workers, shareholders, and their community. In particular, Gandhi said that "A customer is the most
important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent upon us. We are dependent upon him. He is
not an interruption in our work - he is the purpose of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving
him. He is doing us a favor by giving us the opportunity to serve him".[15] United States consumer
advocate Ralph Nader called Gandhi "the greatest consumer advocate the world has seen" for
advancing the concept that commercial enterprise should serve the consumer and that the
consumer should expect to be served by business.[15] Vinoba Bhave and Jayaprakash Narayan, two
great proponents of Gandhi's philosophy, and V. V. Giri and Lal Bahadur Shastri, contemporary
Indian president and prime minister, similarly expected the business community to regulate itself as
an expression of responsibility to contribute to society.[15] These ideas were developed by some
business leaders. In July 1966 in Bombay some people founded the Fair Trade Practice Association,
which was later renamed the Council for Fair Business Practice. This is now seen as a sincere effort
toward promoting business self-regulation, despite consumer activists' criticism that self-regulation
would not provide sufficient protection to consumers.[15]

From the perspective of consumer activism, the Planning Commission backed the foundation of the
Indian Association of Consumers in 1956 in Delhi to be a national base for consumer interests.[15]
For various reasons, it was not effective in achieving its goals.[15] Other organizations were
established in the 1960 in various places in India but none were effective in achieving community
organization.[15] Leading on past failures, in Bombay in 1966 nine female homemakers founded the
Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) which remains one of India's most important consumer
organizations.[15] The most powerful consumer organization in India is the Consumer Education and
Research Center (CERC), founded in 1978 in Ahmedabad as part of the "social action litigation
movement".[15] At that time in society, courts started recognizing social workers and public interest
groups as consultants on behalf of individuals or classes of people whose rights had been violated
but who could not easily speak for themselves.[15] Since its founding CERC has become among the
most successful consumer organizations of the developing world in terms of its achievements of
litigating on behalf of consumers.[15] The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 {COPRA} was mostly a
result of intensive lobbying by CERC and CGSI.[15]

In 1991 the Economic liberalisation in India radically changed the Indian marketplace by opening
India to foreign trade and foreign investment.
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted in 1986 to protect
the interests of consumers in India. It makes provision for the establishment of consumer councils
and other authorities for the settlement of consumer's disputes and for matters connected there
with also. The act was passed in Assembly in October 1986 and came into force on 24 December
1986.

Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies

Main article: Consumer Court

District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF): Also known as the "District Forum"
established by the State Government in each district of the State. The State Government may
establish more than one District Forum in a district. It is a district level court that deals with cases
valuing up to ₹2 million (US$29,000)

State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC): Also known as the "State Commission"
established by the State Government in the State. It is a state level court that takes up cases valuing
less than ₹10 million (US$ 140,000)

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC): Established by the Central

Government. It deals with matters of more than 10 million.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Responsibility to be aware of the quality and safety of goods and services before purchasing.

The Responsibility to gather all the information and facts available about a product or service as
well as to keep abreast of changes and innovations in the marketplace.

The Responsibility to Think Independently and make choices about well considered needs and
wants.

The Responsibility to Speak Out, to inform manufacturers and governments of needs and wants.

The Responsibility to Complain and inform business and other consumers of dissatisfaction with a
product or service in a fair and honest manner.

The Responsibility to be an Ethical Consumer and to be fair by not engaging in dishonest practices
which cost all consumers money.

The Responsibility to Respect the Environment and avoid waste, littering and contribution to
pollution.

RIGHTS

The Right to Satisfaction of Basic Needs Citizens must demand access to essential goods and
services such as adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water, and
sanitation.

The Right to Safety and protection from hazardous goods or services.

The Right to be Informed and protected against fraudulent, deceitful or misleading information and
to have access to accurate information and facts needed to make informed choices and decisions.

The Right to Choose and have access to a variety of products and services at fair and competitive
prices.

The Right to be Heard and to express and represent consumer interests in the making of economic
and political decisions.

The Right to Redress and to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory
services.

The Right to Consumer Education and to become a skilled and informed consumer capable of
functioning effectively in the marketplace.

The Right to a Healthy Environment that will enhance the quality of life and provide protection from
environmental problems for present and future generations.