The more the consumers are aware, the better it is, not only for the consumer but the community and for the State at large. We have to grow as a community and if one wants to grow as a community, it needs to be benefitted asserted Secretary Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Shri Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS.
Shri Rodrigues was speaking at the State Consumer Rights Day celebrations organized by the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao today.
Speaking further, he said one should not derive benefit as an individual but the whole community as an ecosystem should benefit. Come up with good innovative ideas and good reach out programmes he urged consumer clubs. Redressal for any consumer issue is a must. Redressal is a main factor in consumer movement. Suggestions are welcomed form the people he added.
Shri Rodrigues felt that students and teachers have a great role to play in the consumer awareness movement and can be an effective channel of communication between the Government and community at large.
Shri Rodrigues, IAS complemented FDA for putting their best foot forward to ensure that the State receives accolades for being the best State on the food safety index in India for the fourth consecutive year. It is not a small achievement as a lot of follow up, action and awareness needs to be initiated to achieve it. It is each one’s bounden duty to maintain this status. It is easy to get a rank but it is very difficult to maintain consistency. Time has come for the State to compete with itself and move up, he remarked.
He urged all stakeholders who are associated with the consumer awareness movement to come together to achieve the goal and assured Government support to this movement.
Consumer awareness movement needs guidance which will be provided and the Government is providing preference to training and guidance he said. For grass root awareness activities funds are earmarked and will ensure funds are released so that consumer forums and clubs reach out and make people aware of their consumer rights, he said.
Shri Roland Martins emphasizing the need for students to make visible the “Jago Grahak Jago” slogan in real manner said that there are 140 consumer clubs spread across school, higher secondary and colleges in the State as part of a young Civic and Consumer movement.
Smt Jyoti Sardessai in her welcome address said rights, duties and responsibilities should go hand in hand. This programme is aimed to create awareness among the Consumers, she said.
Chief Officer, Margao Municipal Council, Shri Rohit Kadam was present on the occasion.
Representatives of Consumers Clubs of educational institutions from Mormugao and Salcete Taluka and volunteers from consumer forum attended the programme.
Shri Richard Noronha proposed a vote of thanks.