Bhopal: Minister for Food-Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection and Labour Omprakesh Dhurve said that concrete efforts must be taken to generate awareness among the consumers of remote and rural areas. Consumer helpline should be started. Dhurve was addressing the World Consumer Protection Day programme. Referring to the activities of Food, Drug Administration, Weight and Measurement, Oil and Gas Companies, Banks and Voluntary Organisations displayed in the stalls put up at the State Level programme at Bhopal Haat, Dhurve said that there is a need to pay attention in rural areas besides urban areas.
The Minister further stated that need to bring acceleration in redressal of consumer cases is must. He said that maximum number of cases are registered in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur urban areas. This shows the awareness among the people of urban areas. Cases not registered in few districts indicates that consumer awareness programmes should also be organized in rural areas. He said that grant on priority should be given to such voluntary organizations.
Principal Secretary KC Gupta informed that consumer helpline will be started by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department within 2 to 3 months. Consumers will be facilitated to obtain information after registering complaints on toll free number of helpline.
Dhurve also inspected the exhibition. As many as 35 stalls have been put up by various departments and voluntary organizations. Chairman Madhya Pradesh Warehousing and Logistic Corporation Rajendra Singh Rajput and Chairman Madhya Pradesh Civil Supplies Corporation Hitesh Bajpai also inspected the exhibition. Commissioner Food Vivek Porwal, Managing Director Civil Supplies Corporation Faiz Ahmad Qidwai and Registrar State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission Avdhesh Shrivastava were present on the occasion.
In the World Consumer Protection Day programme, first prize was bestowed to Harish Mishra of Vindhya Upbhokta Sanrakshan Parishad-Sidhi at the state level for 2016. Mamta Singh of Consumer and Civil Rights Association-Gwalior and Smita Saxena of Asha Smita Foundation of Bhopal bagged second and third prizes respectively. Moreover, prizes were given to 6 students selected in essay and poster competitions. Weight-Measurement, Food and Drug Administration beside Asha Smita Foundation were honoured for best stalls.