Raise budget for consumer welfare activities: Parliamentary Consultative panel

NEW DELHI: The government should increase budget for consumer welfare activities to protect the interest of consumers, a Parliamentary Consultative panel said today.

"Government should increase budget for consumer welfare activities," said Members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Food, PDS and Consumer Affairs in a meeting.

The committee discussed about the government's proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act.

Addressing the committee, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan briefed members about government's plans for consumer protection and strengthening of standards of consumer goods.

Paswan said that his Ministry has proposed amendments for setting up of a 'National Consumer Protection Authority' to deal with misleading advertisements and for filing class action, online filing of complaints by consumers at the place of the residence, restriction of lawyers' appearance up to certain financial limits and suo-motu cognisance by consumer Fora, a statement said.

"The Government has decided to give high priority to the protection of consumers and promotion of responsible consumer movement in the country as the post liberalisation and globalisation has posed many challenges for protection of consumers," he said.

Expressing concern over pendency of cases in consumer courts, he said, that government has plans to revamp the infrastructure and strengthen these courts.