Odisha Committed to Strengthening Consumer Protection, Celebrates National Consumer Day

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasized the state government’s dedication to making the consumer protection campaign a success through active collaboration with government bodies, private organizations, civil society, and the media during the state-level National Consumer Day celebration held at the Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Center on Tuesday.

During the event, the Chief Minister recalled that the Consumer Protection Act was first enacted on December 24, 1986, to safeguard consumer rights. However, recognizing the need for stronger provisions, the Consumer Protection Act 2019 was introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and implemented nationwide on July 20, 2020.

“The new Act has provisions to hold fraudulent entities accountable and prevent scams. It empowers consumers, especially in today’s digital age where scams and fraud are rampant,” Majhi said. He cited the 2010 Odisha chit fund scams as an example and explained how the Act, through mechanisms like the Consumer Protection Authority and digital complaint systems, enables swift action against consumer rights violations.

Highlighting the theme for this year—“Digital Hearing & Digital Access to Consumer Justice”—the Chief Minister urged consumers to utilize e-filing systems to lodge complaints from home, making the justice process more accessible.

Majhi emphasized that consumer awareness is crucial to protecting individual rights and that a state-wide effort is underway to increase awareness through programs at the district and state levels. “Consumer safety is a social movement,” he said, urging the public to share feedback on creating a fraud-free and unscrupulous business-free Odisha as part of the state’s vision for prosperity by 2036.

At the event, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra highlighted the department’s efforts to strengthen consumer courts and make the department more proactive in addressing consumer grievances. “An aware consumer is a good consumer,” he remarked, reinforcing the importance of awareness in achieving justice.

Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Chairman Dilip Mohapatra added that Odisha has pioneered online case filing and hearing systems, making it easier for consumers to seek redress. Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh reiterated the department’s commitment to curbing consumer exploitation and building a vigilant society.