ABOUT US

Ours is  a registered Organization ( NGO)  with its registered Office at Palakkad and is unique and different with its unselfish service. It is recognized locally, nationally and now internationally for its exceptional performance and social activities.

 Realising  the pivotal role  that an NGO  can play  in eradicating  social evils  and injustice ,  a group of friends  joined together  and formed  an association  named  Consumers Association  on 25^th  May 1991 , and it was registered   under Societies Registration Act of India.

 We aim   at creating a feeling  of oneness  among the  consumers  and making them  stand together  to fight against  exploitation  and  to protect  themselves  from  all sort of social justice.

 We stand   for  make awareness in    the   civil society  irrespective of caste , creed  and religion  and   educating  them    against exploitation  , unfair trade  &  cheating .. 

 As an  NGO functioning  in the  consumers interest  we  interact  with  statutory and  recommendatory committees & forums constituted by the government  and  raise the  problems  of the  aggrieved  consumers and uphold  the rights of the civil society...

 Our activities  set   models   to similar organizations   functioning  in this field all overIndia.. Considering  our relentless service  to the society  , we  have  bagged several recognitions for our meritorious services from the  Government of India  and  the  Government of Kerala..

 We are  the only organization which won seven cash awards, two from the Government of India  and five from the State government. The list includes the most coveted “Swami Vivekananda National Award” of Rs40,000/- twice from the central government.

 We  express our  gratitude to our  members , friends and  the officials  of the government machinery  like  District Supply office , Dist. Collectorate  ,the State government  for the timely advice and assistance  extended  to  us  for the speedy disposal of the cases taken up ..

Diverging from the usual path of submitting memoranda  before the authorities  and  issuing  press releases , we  took up the responsibility of educating the consumers of their rights and to organize them    for their rights  in  1996.

As a part of educating the  civil society , the Consumers’ Association conducted seminars debate ,discussion  and symposium on various  subjects and started celebrating World Consumers’ day every year. To   awareness in  the civil society  , various competitions were conducted and prizes distributed to the winners.  Also Consumers’ Association honours  every year  persons , institutions and organizations  for their outstanding  service  towards  consumer community  .

Such seminars, symposiums, group discussions and celebrations have  saved  the civil society   from  the  exploitations  and  unfair trades and services   to some extend . The expenses for such programmes are met from the membership fees of the new members who join every year.

 Considering  our  relentless  services   the  Government of India  and the State  Government   have nominated  us  to the  various statutory  as well as recommendatory  committees  constituted by the government .

Given below is a list  of  the most  important  statutory  as well as  recommendatory  committees nominated  by the   state and central governments :

l  Central Consumer Protection Council, (CCPC) Govt. of India,Krishi Bhavan,New Delhi.

Consumer Protection Act –1986  ,Chapter ll   Prescribes   the provisions    of the  Councils  namely :- CCPC, SCPC, DCPC in section 4,7,and   8 A& 8B . The Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC ) State   Consumer Protection Council (SCPC )  and District  Consumer Protection Council (DCPC)   include  the representatives of the Ministers ,  MP’s, MLA ’s ,  Executives ,  Traders,  Service Providers ,  Department Heads  , Trade Unions  ,  NGO’s , Consumer Activists , and   the representatives of efficient Consumers Associations :

The  Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC )  Chaired  by the concern  Minister , Govt. of India ,  is the authority  at National level   to make the Act  really meaningful and useful  including   necessary   legal   amendments  to ensure the  consumers rights & interests...   

The Central Consumer Protection Council   is the   backbone of the  Consumer Protection Act –1986 in India. The  new   council consists of 35 members  including  10 Ministers from   different States , 2 Parliament  representatives ,   various heads of the important  departments,  and  Consumers, Trade & Industries  associations.  We   have been nominated  in to the  newly  reconstituted  CCPC  as  per the  Government of India’s  latest  Gazette  notification published on 14^th October 2007.

The  Chairperson  of the CCPC  is the   Minister  for  Food ,Public Distribution ,Agriculture and   Consumer Affairs  , with its office at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi and the duration is   for the period of 3 years. 

ll. Consumer Adequacy Group Member of   TRAI ,  Govt. of India , New Delhi.

The role of   the Telecom  Regulatory Authority of India  Authority  ( TRAI )

In the early 90’s  there was a shift  in the economic  policy  of the  Government  of India.  The main purpose  of the   new economic policy  was to improve India’s  competitiveness  in the   global marker  and rapid growth of   exports . Another element  of the new economic policy  was to attract  foreign direct  investment  and  also  to stimulate  domestic investment. During the same period  it was also felt  that the Telecommunication  services    of world class quality  was of utmost necessity for the success of new economic  policy and that it should be accorded high degree of priority  in the government. With this aim  in view , the sector was  liberalized and private companies were allowed to enter this service sector     .This entry  also facilitated  increase in the  level  of investment  in the sector ; and such an increase was badly  needed. This became possible only with  the participation of private  companies in the sector.

With the private companies and government companies  sharing markets  of various services  in the Telecom sector , necessity of an independent  regulator  to regulate the activities  of this sector was felt. Accordingly  The Telecom Regulatory Authority  of India ( TRAI )   came into existence  in the year 1997 through an Act  of Parliament  . Under the provisions of this Act , the TRAI   is vested with certain powers  and functions . 

Considering our  service  in the field of   Telecom  ( Mobile as well as Land phone )  we have been  recommended   among other  40  NGO’s  at national level     into  the   Consumer Advocacy Group  , TRAI , New Delhi  .This   committee is   constituted  as per  the TRAI  Act  , for  protecting the interests of the  consumers at national level.

We  had participated in  many  discussions and consultations   organized by TRAI  at various  places  and contributed many valuable suggestions  for ensuring the consumer interest  in this field. The  Chairman of  the TRAI  , is the final  authority   and its office is functioning at Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhavan , JLN Marg, Old Minto Road , New Delhi-110002.       

lll. State Food Advisory Council , Govt. of Kerala , Thiruvananthapuram.

We are also  a member of State Food Advisory Council which was reorganized by the Government with the Civil Supplies and Consumer  Affairs Minister  as its chairman. The Council consists of 35 members from various departments, Legal Metrology, LPG, Petrol, FCI, Ration Dealers, Trade Unions, Agriculture Societies, Associations of Hotel Owners and consumers’ associations. The council with its office at the Government secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram aims at protecting the interest of  the consumers especially  in Food , Public Distribution and LPG-  Petrol sector.

Apart from the above, we actively   associate  with other committees  constituted  as per the  Government . Consumer Welfare Fund, Consumer Protection Council, Petro Products Grievances Redressal Forum, Food Advisory cum Vigilance Committee etc. are  among the other  important few  .

We  are   serving  our level best   through these  committees  without any compensation or remunerations what so ever   for the welfare of the civil society…..

We  fought for and on behalf of many consumers who were refused fair service  from various service providers from time to time.  A   few instances    are given below:

l . An incident of negation of electrical connection  to a  poor  women..

Ms. K K Ramani is a staff  of one of the Public Sector enterprises , Govt.of India  and is a widow aged 50.  She is belongs to  the scheduled tribe  community  and staying at Kottamparakkulam, Kanjikode .She had remitted Rs. 450/- to the Electricity Board as the Connection deposit on 24^th November 2000. Even after four years the Electricity Board refused to provide connection to her house  in the modern society   and there upon she approached us  with  a written complaint.

On receiving the complaint 15^th August 2004 , we    conducted preliminary enquiries and  found  that  there was  undue delay &   negligence of   service   on part of  the KSEB authorities.  Then  we  issued a notice to the Chief Engineer, K S E B ,Palakkad on 30th August 2004   demanding a   reply  within 30 days  clearly stating that it is a  case of negation of justice to a deserved schedule tribe widow. The notice was  ignored by the Chief Engineer, K S E B.  Then  We  approached the Officer and discussed the matter  and learnt that two neighbors  had filed their objection in  allotting  electrical connection to  Smt. K K Ramani.

The chief Engineer promised  to do the needful to  overrule the requests of the neighbors and take up the matter soon. But it was noticed that the Chief Engineer did not take any action even after several months. Later  we  brought the issue  before the  District Collector but of no avail.

So we submitted a petition to the Chief Minister through “Sutharya Keralam” on 21 March 2005. The Chief Minister ordered the Chief Engineer to take up the matter and  report within 15 days. Copy  was given to us.   On receiving the notice from  CM’s  office  the Chief Engineer informed us   that two neighbors of Smt. K K Ramani had filed objection  against allotting electrical connection to K K Ramani   at    Additional Dist.  Magistrate’s Court and two advocates were looking after the court proceedings…

Then  we  contacted the office of the   Additional Magistrate   and learnt that the court had  taken the case  but  no hearing  was  done   last one and half years.  Consequently, the General Secretary,    appeared on behalf of  Smt  K K Ramani  and  argued   against the unfair service of the KSEB  and the undue delay  for  connection  order . The case  proceedings  began once again.

After a prolonged eight hearings the court rejected the objections  filed  and accepted  our arguments  on 23 November 2005 and the next day  that is on 24^th November 2005  , the K S E B had given    electrical connection to Smt. K K Ramani. Consumers’ Association is proud that it could lend its service to a destitute widow absolutely free.

ll. Abnormal Service Charges levied by STD Booths .. “ Service charge  is not the Right ”

During 1999 the Organizations of STD Booth owners approached the High Court of Kerala to levy service charge at the rate of Rs.2/- per call. But we  rose to the occasion and fought the case in High Court Single Bench, Division Bench, Full Bench and the Supreme Court from 1999 to 2002 and obtained the verdict in which the court had undoubtedly stated that the service charge is not the right of the STD Booth Owners. The beneficiaries of this verdict are millions of common people who daily  make  use of the STD Booths..

lll. Service Charge for SB Account Holders levied by Catholic Syrian Bank.

Service charges at the rate of Rs.25/- were collected from Smt. Hema Venugopal and Sri. V A Menon by the Catholic Syrian Bank at their Chandranagar Branch. The authorities kept mum while questioned by the account holders so they lodged a compliant with us..  We took up   the matter and contacted the corporate office of the bank. In the discussions and arguments that followed Consumers’ Association could convince that the Bank was unlawfully taxing its customers and the Bank issued orders to stop the service tax and also to refund the service charges levied in the past  to the  complaints. Due to our intervention   thousands of SB account holders benefited throughout the country.

lV. Action taken against distribution of Synthetic Milk which caused fatal diseases

Synthetic milk was distributed by some anti social elements from Tamil Nadu in cans in and around Palakkad, Thrissur and Eranakulam districts. Some citizens who grew suspicious of the quality of the milk brought the incidents to the notice of Consumers’ Association.  We brought this issue before the District Food  Advisory cum vigilance committee  and requested the authorities to   test   the quality of the milk. The Chairman of the committee Dr. Elankovan, the district Collector  issued orders to the food inspector to find out the certainty of the compliant. On examining the milk it was found to be manufactured using Urea, Soyabean waste and out dated milk powder. Also the lab report indicated   the fatal diseases if the milk is consumed by the public. Consumers’ Association had to face threats from the milk mafia but took firm decisions and fought against  the mafia and  stopped  the distribution of such milk ,  and saved thousands of   poor  people .

V.  One day fasting at the Civil Station on 03-03-03 to open the eyes of the Government.

The function of CDRF ( Consumer Disputes & Redressal Forum – Consumer Courts  )  came to a stand still by 2003. This was because the Government did not     nominate  the Members   for the two vacancies of the forum, created by leaving of two members.  We have submitted  memorandum  to fill the vacancies   at the earliest   to Sri. G Karthikeyan  the  Minister  who was handling the port folio, with a copy to the Chief Minister  Sri. A.K.Antony  and Opposition leader Sri.V.S.Achudanandan  . 

In the memorandum Consumers’ Association  brought the importance  before  the Government to fill the vacancies in a month’s time lest Consumers’ Association should  be forced to proceed with other means such as hunger strike etc.. to apprise the citizens of the grave irresponsibility on the part of the Government.

When all the requests and memoranda fell in a deaf ear, Consumers’ Association assembled in front of the Civil Station for a One Day Hunger Strike and once again warned the authorities of the legal consequences .This had its own effect and in a week’s time the vacancies were filled and CDRF ( Consumer Court ) started functioning  to the  benefit of   hundreds of consumers..

Vl.  In the High Court to constitute the Consumer Protection Councils

[W.P. (C) 5285/2005]      (Party in Person)

Petitioner:      P A Surendran

                        General Secretary, Consumers’ Association

                        Kits College , Court Road, Palakkad 678 001.

Respondent:     1. Govt. of Kerala, Ministry of Consumer Affairs,

                        Thiruvanathapuram

                        2. Member Secretary, Consumer Protection Council

                        Govt. of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram

The Consumer Protection Councils  section 7 & 8a and b ,falls under the  authority of the State government   aims  at creating a holistic awareness in the civil society  by promoting and conducting meetings and seminars ,  and motivating the  Consumers Courts (CDRF and CDRC)  for speedy disposal of the  disputes .  The  period of the council  is for 3 years.  Since 2003 the State Consumer Protection Council , constituted  on  2002  became inactive   and even after 2005 the Government did not take any initiative to form the new Council.

Moreover, in accordance with the CPA –1986 Act  amendment of 18^th December 2002, inserted section 8a&8b  for  The  District Consumer Protection Councils (DCPC )  and no actions were taken  by the government  for  the constitution of the  DCPC in all districts . Considering all these circumstances, Consumers’ Association filed a case with the High Court of Kerala  for the constitution of these councils . The General Secretary  appeared  as Party in Person . Case No.     [W.P. (C) 5285/2005] and argued  against  the service negligence of the government.    

As a result, on 28^th March 2005 Chief Justice Sri. K S Radhakrishnan and the full bench passed orders for appointing the above council within 90 days and the Government immediately took action to form the councils. Our  Consumers’ Association was the only organization that spent time and money to awaken the Govt. officials to form the councils  thereby meting out requisites of the   people.

Vll.  Celebration of World Consumers Day with ‘Sathyagraha’ on 15-03-2007.

We  celebrated  the World  Consumers Day on 15^th March 2007 with a “Sathyagraha”  in front of the Fifth lamp corner  ,Fort Maidan  Palakkad  to invite the attention of the Government to the following facts:

To protect the CDRF and CDRC which are in its sinking stages.

To reorganize the DCPC and SCPC for their faultless functioning.

To include the vehicle owners who pay road tax in the jurisdiction of Consumer Protection.

Take stern action to ensure flawless performance of the Telecom Department.

To restrict deceitful business tactics in the Insurance and Banking fields

To ensure strict action against food adulteration

To suspend license of Petrol Bunks which do not supply correct volume of Petrol, by making adjustment in the measuring mechanisms.

To suspend License of LPG distributors who levy extra charges for delivery of gas cylinders.

To eliminate middle man policy in the agricultural field.  

Vll. Helping  Auto  Commuters :

 In the General Body meeting of Consumers’ Association held on 18^th May 2005 it was decided to proceed with activities to put an end  to the problems faced by the common man using Auto Rikshaw as the  mode  of conveyance. The main problems faced by the passenger were indecent behavior of the Auto Drivers, quarrelling with the passengers for extra tariff, not switching on the meter during the service etc.

A memorandum was presented by Consumers’ Association to the concerned  Minister with copies to the District Collector, Superintendent of Police and R T O.  Accepting the memorandum the Minister passed orders to convene a meeting and accordingly the Collector called a meeting on 30 December 2005 with the participation of A D M, Superintendent of Police, R T O, R D O, Assistant Controller of Legal Metrology, Representatives of various Trade Unions and the Consumers’ Association and formed Auto Fare Meter Implementation Committee.

The grievances of Auto travelers were presented with proof by P A Surendran, General Secretary and S Rajendran , Executive member of Consumers’ Association. The representatives of different Trade Unions accepting the facts remarked that 25% of the drivers who do not have membership in any of the Trade Unions are the culprits for such illegal and dishonest activities.

Also they blamed the R T O for the irregularities in issuing licenses, the legal Metrology department for not sealing the meters in time and the Police department for not taking action against Autos plying without meters. To study the problems and to  suggest remedies a sub committee was also formed with representatives of CITU, AITUC, INTUC, Legal Metrology, RTO, Police and Consumers’ Association with ADM Sri. V Radhakrishnan as its president.

The Sub committee decided to take action such as recommending pre-paid Auto Booths, giving  one day training to Auto Drivers, ensuring timely sealing of Auto meter, supplying  laminated fare cards to Auto Drivers, fixing  charges  for unit ,  distance etc.

The district Collector discussed the recommendations of the sub committee and gave green signal to go ahead with the recommendations and suggested to raise the required fund by inviting sponsorship from business magnates to avoid allotting funds by Government departments. The Consumers’ Association took over the responsibility and implemented the recommendations one after another.

Two pre-paid booths for Auto Rikshaw were opened at Civil Station on 26 June 2006 and at K S R T C Bus station  at Palakkad  on 31 August 2006. Laminated fare cards were distributed to the Auto Drivers. By the interference of Consumers’ Association almost 90% of the grievances were set right in a short span of time and hundreds of Auto Commuters enjoy the benefit. 

But the transfer of the District Collector Mr. K Ajaykumar, IAS ,  and illegal intervening and influencing  of  a  trade union leader  at  the police department  , slowed down the whole process and damaged the refinement scheme..

Vlll . Impact  of Cini Artist’s glamour in promoting low quality gold :

The Central Government appointed Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to protect the interest of the  consumers of  gold. As a course of action the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)  had introduced the “Hallmark” system to standardize the quality of gold and allotted numbers as 916, 875, 750, 585 and 375 for 22, 21, 18, 14 and 9 carets respectively. But most of the common people are still ignorant of this and never knew that the pure gold is 916 BIS Hallmarked.

With the help of advertisement using cini stars the jewellers misled the public to believe that 916 gold is pure gold, whereas  916 BIS Hallmarked gold alone  is  of 22 caret . As a counter measure Consumers’ Association started conducting seminars with the participation of Officers from BIS to educate the public on purity of gold. In the present market the difference of one gram 916 purity gold and 916 BIS Hallmarked gold is around Rs.2000/- . One can understand how much profit the jewelers are making by selling 916 purity gold instead of 916 BIS Hallmarked gold.  

Xl   . Celebration of World Consumers Day with ‘Sathyagraha’ – 15^th March 2008 

Inspired by the result of last year’s celebration Consumers Association once again celebrated World Consumers Day with ‘Sathyagraha’ in front of Palakkad Municipal Complex on 15^th March 2008.

The ‘Sathyagraha’ was inaugurated by Honble. M L A Sri K K Divakaran. Our demand was to make full fledged  Footpath in the town,  plan and construct perfect Drainage system and to take necessary steps to make Palakkad a ‘Mosquito free town’. The success of last year’s activities attracted members of many other organizations to participate in the ‘Sathyagraha’  organized  by us.

X  . We  are  the first in India   bag the  United  Nations “  Special Consultative Status “

It was on 9^th  April 1985 that the United Nations passed a resolution and decided to celebrate World Consumer Day on 15^th March every year but so far it was not listed in United Nation’s approved list of celebrations. This knowledge led us to submit an appeal to the Economic and Social Council which is one of the five divisions of the United Nations, in 2004.

Representatives from 18 nations including India formed  a Committee to examine such appeals received from various organizations. After presenting satisfactory clarifications to all the queries, the Committee awarded Special Consultative Status to Consumers’ Association on 13^th July 2007.

This recognition from the United Nations gave us an  opportunity to broaden our services to the international level and   we are now eligible to participate in all the discussions and seminars organized by the United Nations at New York, Geneva, Vienna and other countries for the protection of Civil society  all over the world. By participating in such discussions and seminars we shall be able to raise our   views for the unorganized  consumers   in a world forum  .  

Xl .  Celebration  on Special Consultative Status  with the United Nations  with Cultural eve  on 18^th  October  2007 at Hotel Indraprastha  -Annex Conference hall, Palakkad. 

A public meeting with Cultural evening  was convened  on 18-10-2007  at Hotel Indraprastha  -Annex Conference hall, Palakkad to celebrate this great event  on the UN accreditation . Sri. C. Divakaran  , the honble Minister for  Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs  Govt. of Kerala   inaugurated the function. 

The  General Secretary  Sri. P.A.Surendran  was  honoured  and congratulated  by Hon’ MP. Sri. K.E. Ismail  , for the selfless service rendered to him   to make  the Consumer  Association  , what it  is today . Sri. KK. Divakaran , MLA , Smt.  Subaida Ishaq   , the District Panchayath President , Adv. Santha Devy , ( Grahalakshmy )  Adv.  Mathews Thomas (YMCA )  etc.. spoke on the occasion . A huge gathering    attended the function. 

Xll. Conclusion

One way or other way we are all Consumers. Every one of us buying commodities and availing  services from    either government  or private  . Hence we are all will come under the purview  of    “Consumer ”. In order to protect our interest and prevent cheating and to safeguard the rights and interests of the Consumers we have to be  organized. The Consumer should have the right to choose quality goods and services at a justifiable price.

 “ Consumers’ protection is not just a term to be used  as in  leisure time talk  ” but a political ideology,  nay strategy of all developed and developing   countries.

The above is only a concise report of some of the many activities undertaken  successfully  by our Consumers  Association. We are continuing our crusade against the atrocities against THE UNORGANISED  consumers .

We  have  not received   any grants or  financial assistance / donations whatsoever from the Central or State Governments, public or private agencies till the date although we have applied  many times  before the  department of Consumer Affairs  Govt. of India and the State government  .

We know that the distance traveled so far is insignificant compared to what we have to accomplish in future. Let us unite and work together to accomplish our goal.

It is an  age of  globalization ,Liberalization , & decentralization  when many exporting  countries are  trying to catch  the  heart of Indian Consumers  with standard  or  substandard goods . Unhealthy competition may affect  the health and interest  of the consumers..  Any food items  produced in  any part of the world  can reach   to the hands  of   Indian Consumers next day  . Adulteration, sales of prohibited drugs , pesticide  above the level and steroid  contents in the packed food are  not safe to anybody.           

It is our dream to  have   our own Office complex with a full fledged modern &  scientific  lab for determining the quality of food articles  and beverages  , to test precious metals ,   detect  food  adulteration , drinking  water,  pesticide contamination in the soft drinks,   and  a  modern scientific  library   &   auditorium  for conducting seminars, training classes , conferences  with  Guest house  and  dormitory .. 

We invite you to be a part of the Consumers  movement   activities by becoming a member of our  Association and contribute a little of your  expertise, time and money so that the succeeding consumer community is well aware of their rights and privileges and may live in a world where there is  a  strong  law and order  situation   against  unfair traders and service providers.... 

Your blessings  / contributions  in any currencies  in the world    may  please be forwarded  to  our  Current Account  no.  5 7 0 0 3 8 3 7 5 1 2   maintaining  at  State Bank  of Travancore  ( SBT )   Chandranagar branch ,  Palakkad- 678007 ,  Kerala  India .  

Regards ,

-sd- 

P A Surendran ,

General Secretary

Consumers’ Association.. 

We interact   to solve and help   the individual  consumer complaints ,

We interact   with the government  for   strengthening  Consumer  Protection  machineries  and Grievance  Redressal  System  ,,

We  interact    with  our  strong  membership  base   for the  Consumer  movement …