Focus on progressive policies for consumer protection

Anantapur: Consumer education is the need of the hour and the consumers have to be safeguarded from being exploited by the traders. These were the views expressed by the speakers at the UGC Sponsored a National seminar on 'Consumer Protection: Issues and Strategies' at the Sri Krishnadevaraya University campus here on Thursday. The seminar was organized by the Department of Commerce of SKU and the district Civil Supplies department. SKU Vice-Chancellor Prof. K Ramakrishna Reddy and District Collector Durga Das were the Chief Guests at the programme. The seminar director Prof Lajipathi Rai highlighted the theme of the programme and said that the technological changes would offer all consumers an unprecedented range of new products and services, and the effects of these changes would be felt deeply in the very structure of the society. "Our youngsters are able to face the world equipped not just with information about the world we live in, but with the mental faculties that will enable them to discern and judge and to make competent decisions about their lives affected by the buying decisions," he said. SKU Vice-Chancellor Prof K Ramakrishna Reddy after inaugurating the seminar stressed that informed consumers are essential to economic development and by exercising free choice based on knowledge, the consumer will be able to make the best use of his resources, money, time, knowledge and ability. He also hoped that the seminar is intended to provide clues in the direction of contributing to the proper functioning of the economy by stimulating effective and fair competition, and thereby, similarly contribute to social and economic development. Later, District Collector Durga Das stressed that pricing policies should be changed to protect the consumers in the modern society and legal system for consumer protection must be strengthened at different levels. He also urged to discuss the ways and means to protect the ignorant rural consumers by focusing progressing policies. The renowned philanthropist, PL N Reddy, and officials belonging to confederation of Andhra Pradesh Consumer Organisation, Civil Supplies and legal metrology department executives spoke on the occasion and interacted with large number of gathering in the proceedings of the seminar. SKU administrative and academic deans, all teaching and research fraternity and SKU Public Relations Officer Dr. K Sudhakar Babu were present in the seminar and interacted with dignitaries. The seminar intends to explore how consumers can explore themselves to act in a more enlightened and critical manner in various issues.