Jago Grahak Jago

Packaged food companies have rejigged their millet-based products strategy, following initial hiccups. Many have gone back to the drawing board and relaunched products, selling ₹10-20 packs at a par with other non-millet items to induce trials, create awareness about the health benefits and expand reach to the kiranas. Companies had ventured into the market following the government’s nudge on increasing millet consumption. Sales, however, have been sluggish due to the consumer perception that these products are not tasty and are priced high, apart from the difficulty in adding millets as ingredients in existing items – as it changes flavour – and low shelf life. ITC, for instance, has withdrawn a multi-millet dosa batter, instead unveiling roti, paratha and dosa batter mixes that contain millets. It’s also adding millets in some snacks and confectionery products without increasing prices, and launching lower price-point packs to boost adoption and overcome the poor taste perception. Nestle’s research and development team is partnering with the Indian Institute of Millets Research and culinary experts to improve the taste profile. Parle Products will expand its millet-based biscuit portfolio with small packs priced at ₹20, while breakfast cereal maker Bagrry’s India is launching ₹10 sachets as with cornflakes or children’s cereal. “Millets, as a category, is picking up, though it’s early days. There are long-term changes in habits that we are working on… it is good for the nation,” said Hemant Malik, executive director, ITC. “The first and the biggest issue to solve is the perception that the taste will be bad. Prices will gradually become better as production increases. We have put our might behind millets.” Nestle India R&D head Jagdeep Marahar recently told analysts that millets are not the easiest of grains to be consumed or even to be processed, apart from the taste issue. “There are challenges because there are 13 types of millets, and each is different in size, hardness, in the way that we process these. They have in their inherent form, very low shelf life, which keeps the consumers away,” he said. Companies such as ITC and Nestle have announced their intention to make millet-based products a dominant part of their portfolio. Under ITC’s Mission Millets, almost one-fourth of new food launches will be based on these grains. Mayank Shah, senior category head at Parle Products, said taste cannot be compromised at any cost. Also, the increase in demand has led to a rise in cost. “Even now, millet cultivation is lower than demand and hence, prices are still high,” he said. Bagrry’s India director Aditya Bagri said the company will create awareness at the shop level on the benefits of millets, as part of a strategy to encourage trials and adoption. In the previous quarter, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) rolled out millet-based chocolate Horlicks, while Britannia launched millet bread. Nestle introduced ready-to-cook A+ Masala Millet. Several startups are also selling millet-based products. The United Nations, at the behest of the Indian government, declared 2023 the International Year of Millets. The aim was to create awareness and increase production and consumption of the grains. India is among the top five exporters of millets and shipped out millets worth $75.46 million in FY23, compared to $62.95 million in FY22, show government data. Dec 31,2023 Source: Economic Times

In a captivating economic narrative, India’s gold market finds itself at a pivotal juncture, delicately manoeuvring through the interplay of age-old traditions and modern financial evolution. An in-depth econometric analysis sheds light on the intricate web of factors influencing the dynamics of one of the world’s largest gold-consuming nations. India, now crowned as the most populous nation globally, holds a trump card in its youthful demographic structure. With a median age of 27, the country anticipates significant economic benefits, driven by a working-age population set to grow by approximately 7 million annually until 2041. This demographic dividend lays the foundation for robust economic expansion, rising incomes, and a burgeoning middle class, all of which serve as catalysts for increased gold demand. The intricate dance of India’s demographic dynamics, coupled with socio-economic factors, is unfolding against the backdrop of a long-term projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), foreseeing a 23 per cent per capita GDP growth between 2022 and 2026. This growth projection fuels optimism about the country’s economic trajectory, further solidifying the foundation for potential growth in gold demand. To unravel the complexities of India’s gold market, an econometric model takes centre stage. Drawing on three decades of data from 1990 to 2020, this model deciphers the complex relationship between income, gold prices, and government policies. The findings reveal that, on the long-term horizon, rising income plays the most substantial role in driving gold demand. A 1 per cent increase in gross national income per capita corresponds to a 0.9 per cent rise in gold demand, showcasing the profound impact of economic prosperity on the nation’s affinity for gold. While the long-term trends paint a positive picture, the short-term landscape is characterized by volatility and diverse influences. Inflation, sharp changes in gold prices, tax regimes, and even climatic factors like excess rainfall all contribute to the nuanced dance of India’s gold market. Market participants find themselves navigating through this intricate web of factors, making cautious decisions in response to short-term fluctuations. India’s gold preferences reveal a stark dichotomy between rural and urban landscapes. While rural areas exhibit a strong affinity for gold jewellery as both an investment and adornment, city dwellers lean towards gold bars and coins for investment purposes. The changing dynamics in the rural economy, coupled with government measures to boost incomes, add layers of complexity to gold consumption patterns. In recent years, the rural economy has faced challenges, with annual growth in nominal monthly rural wages averaging just 4.6 per cent from 2014 to 2020. Dec 28,2023 Source: Economic Times

Canara Bank is liable to pay Rs 9.09 lakh as compensation to a 95-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI) customer. Canara Bank has to pay the compensation amount because it did not provide good services and indulged in unfair trade practices. The payment of compensation has been directed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to Swaran Singh Saggu, a 95-year-old NRI. As per the NCDRC, “This is a clear-cut case of deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on the part of OPs, entitling the complainant to a reasonable amount of compensation in addition to reliefs for actual losses”. According to the NCDRC order, the NRI deposited an amount in a Foreign Currency Non-Resident Account (FCNR) fixed deposit with the Canara Bank. This FCNR deposit was set to mature on specific dates. The NRI wanted to encash these FCNR deposits and transfer the amounts to his UK bank accounts. The necessary details for the same were provided to the bank as well. However, the bank delayed the process of transferring money – despite repeated visits and requests – claiming inability to locate the original file. Further, the bank used pretences that were deemed unfair and disregarded their obligations towards the NRI, said the NCDRC order. It is further revealed that FCNR deposits were encashed without the knowledge of the NRI. The bank did not provide the necessary information to the NRI. Canara Bank also failed to transfer the amount until a High Court order mandated the transfer of the amount to the NRI’s Kotak Mahindra Bank account in India. The NRI sought court intervention due to his prolonged stay in India, incurring significant expenses for lodging, legal counsel, and health reasons. The High Court eventually ordered the transfer to the specified account, acknowledging the NRI’s legitimate claim over the deposited amounts. It is important to note that NRI also filed a case under the Consumer Protection Act where the State Consumer Commission partially upheld the NRI’s claim against Canara Bank for deficient services related to the release of FCNR amounts. The State Commission directed the bank to pay the complainant Rs 5,09,288 for losses incurred due to income loss during encashment, legal fees, hotel expenses, and compensation. However, NCDRC increased compensation payable to Rs 9.09 lakh from Rs 5.09 lakh. The NCDRC held a view that the compensation of Rs 1 lakh (out of Rs 5,09,288) awarded by the State Commission is a meagre amount and the NRI deserves to get much higher compensation for the mental agony and hardship at this age. Accordingly, NCDRC directed Canara Bank to pay a total sum of Rs 9,09,288 (Rs 4,09,288 awarded by State Commission on various items, except compensation and Rs 5 lakhs towards compensation) along with a litigation cost of Rs. 25,000 in connection with the present. Dec 21,2023 Source: Economic Times

The Delhi High Court has set aside a 2011 order of the CIC that directed the disclosure of the opinion given to the Centre by the then Solicitor General of India in 2007 in various cases filed by the Cellular Operators Association of India on the allotment of 2G Spectrums. The court held that such information was exempted under the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act except when there are “weighty reasons” to support that its disclosure is in public interest. Justice Subramonium Prasad, while dealing with the Centre’s challenge to the Central Information Commission (CIC) order, said that the relation between the Solicitor General and the Government of India is that of a fiduciary and a beneficiary, and hence excepted under Section 8(1)(e) of the Act. The opinion can only be allowed to be disclosed “if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interest” in terms of section 8(2) of the RTI Act. In the present case, since the RTI applicant did not demonstrate the public interest, the order of the CIC could not be sustained, opined the court, the HC said. “Just by simply stating that it is in public interest to disclose the information would not be sufficient unless weighty reasons are given as to how the information which is exempted from being provided under Section 8(1) of the RTI Act should be provided and as to how the public interest would outweigh the harm to the protected interest,” said the court in a recent order. “This court finds no infirmity with the argument put forth by the Counsel for the Petitioner (Centre) that the advice tendered by the Solicitor General to the Union of India and other various government departments is done in the nature of a fiduciary, and hence the exception of Section 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act has been invoked,” it concluded. The court observed that as per the rules for the engagement of Law Officers, it is the duty of the law officers to give advice to the Government of India on legal matters and a law officer is not allowed to hold brief for any party except with the permission of the Government of India. The Solicitor General of India is duty bound to work for the benefit of the Union government which trusts and places reliance on him in return, it said. The court observed that the RTI Act has the objective of empowering the citizens to seek information from any public authority and uphold the principles of true democracy by keeping public authorities in check by making them answerable to the public. However, it added that not all information can be disclosed, and section 8 provides for “Exemption from disclosure of Information” which suspends the obligation for disclosure of information under various heads and this exempted information can only be provided in the interest of the public at large. Dec 23,2023 Source: Economic Times

New Delhi, The Delhi High Court has set aside an order upholding the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) direction to telecom regulator TRAI to collect and furnish information under RTI proceedings about the alleged tapping of a mobile user’s phone. A bench headed by Justice Vibhu Bakhru allowed an appeal filed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) against a single-judge bench order and said an act of surveillance is carried out under the government’s directions and in the interest of the country’s sovereignty and integrity, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states or public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence, and is exempted under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. “Any orders passed by the government concerned in relation to interception or tapping or tracking of a phone is passed when the authorised officer is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states or public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence,” the bench, also comprising Justice Amit Mahajan, said in a recent order. “In a given case, the disclosure of any such information, therefore, may impede the process of investigation and may be construed to prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, the strategic, scientific and economic interest of the State, relations with foreign states or lead to incitement of an offence, and would therefore be exempted from disclosure under the terms of section 8 of the RTI Act,” the court concluded. It further said phone tapping does not fall under the affairs of telecom service providers and the information sought also does not relate to the functions of the TRAI under the law. “Any contrary view would give the authority (TRAI) unbridled power to call for information and interfere with the functions of telecom service providers, and also would not be in consonance with the objects sought to be achieved by the TRAI Act,” the court said. It said the TRAI was established for the purpose of regulating telecom services to protect the interest of the service providers and consumers in the telecom sector, and to promote and ensure an orderly growth of the sector. The court noted that “information” under the RTI Act includes any information relating to any private body, which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force. The high court had, in August 2021, stayed the single-judge order, saying irreparable damage will be caused if the same was not done. Lawyer Kabir Shankar Bose had filed an RTI application seeking information and details on whether his phone was being tapped and by which agency. Dec 25,2023 Source: Economic Times

The government has acted promptly to do away with a rule to regulate advertisement of Ayush drugs just three months after this was recommended by a technical committee. However, the amendments to the Drugs and Magic Remedies (DMR) Act meant to strengthen regulation of drug advertisements, drafted three years back, remain in limbo. The omission of Rule 170, which was supposed to regulate advertisements for Ayush drugs, was recommended in May this year. It has been operationalised though the final notification of the omission has not happened yet. In response to a right to information query, Ayush ministry wrote that while “the final notification for omission of Rule 170 and its related provisions mentioned in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 will take some time”, all licensing authorities in states and union territories have been “directed not to initiate/take any action under Rule 170”. The letter to states and union territories from the Ayush ministry was sent on August 29. Rule 170 had been brought in through an amendment to the rules after consultations with ASUDTAB (Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board) in response to an increasing number of misleading advertisements of Ayush products. The rule mandated that all advertisements for Ayush drugs would have to be previewed and cleared by the regulator before being publicised. In 2018, the Ayush minister revealed that the ministry had come across 804 instances of misleading advertisements or claims between April 2015 and January 2018. Pharmacovigilance centres of Ayush reported 1,127 cases of misleading advertisements from August 2018 to March 2019. However, less than a month after the new Rule 170 was gazetted, several manufacturers went to court against it and in January 2019 the Delhi high court stayed its operation. ASUDTAB took up the issue of omission of Rule 170. However, in its meeting in June 2022, according to the minutes of the meeting obtained through RTI, then DCGI, Dr VG Somani “suggested that, it is not ethical to omit the existing Rule in anticipation of its inclusion in the proposed amendment of DMR Act”. However, file notings given as part of an RTI response from the health ministry show that the proposed amendments to strengthen the DMR Act have been in limbo since November last year. “Drugs and Magic Remedies Act or the Consumer Protection Act can be invoked only after a misleading ad has appeared. Hardly any action gets taken when such complaints are filed and the cases drag on for years, by which time the intent of publishing such an ad will be met. Rule 170 was meant to be preventive. It would have prevented misleading ads from being published as these ads would first have to be cleared by the concerned state licensing authority. It is unfortunate that the government is buying the industry argument instead of working to protect public interest,” said Dr KV Babu, ophthalmologist and RTI activist. The Ayush ministry’s letter to the state licensing authorities shows that it has decided to go ahead with the recommendation of ASUDTAB following the meeting held on May 25 to proceed with final notification for omission of Rule 170. Dec 19,2023 Source: TOI

New Delhi, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday noted that the Centre has taken many pro-active steps in last few years to control retail prices of food items and said the government will keep inflation under control while ensuring country’s economic growth. He was addressing an event, organised by the ministry here, to celebrate National Consumers Day. “Today, India has become the fastest growing large economy. Going forward, we will keep inflation under check and also ensure economic growth,” Goyal said. Retail inflation inched up to a three-month high of 5.55 per cent in November driven by higher food prices, according to latest official data. The retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was at 4.87 per cent in October. Inflation had been declining since August when it touched 6.83 per cent. On steps taken by the central government, Goyal highlighted that 140 new price monitoring centres have been set up to keep a close watch on wholesale and retail prices of essential commodities. “Today, prices are being monitored at 550 (consuming) centres on a daily basis. This helps in insulating consumers from price rise,” Goyal said. In the last two years, he said, when the entire world witnessed very high inflation, especially in the food items, India was able to control inflation through pro-active fiscal and monetary policies. “Whenever inflation (in some commodity) started rising, the government took pro-active measures and controlled it.” Goyal cited measures taken by the Centre to control price rise in tomatoes and onions in a short period of time. The government sold tomatoes and onions through retail outlets of NCCF, NAFED and Kendriya Bhandar as well as mobile vans. In case of onion, he said the government is buying onions from farmers to create buffer stock and ensure they get a fair price of their produce. He also highlighted that the Centre is selling Bharat Dal at Rs 60 per kg and Bharat atta at Rs 27.50 per kg to provide relief to common man. The government has banned exports of wheat, broken rice, non-basmati white rice and onions. It has also reduced import duties on edible oils and pulses to boost domestic supply and control price rise. Talking about consumer protection issues, Goyal appreciated the work done by his ministry and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to resolve consumers’ grievances. He stressed on the need to clear backlong of cases pending at consumer courts at national, state and district levels. “We are all collectively working for better consumer satisfaction,” he said, adding that the country will progress if consumers would be satisfied. Dec 24,2023 Source: Economic Times

Consumer protection regulator CCPA on Tuesday said it is ready with draft guidelines specifying “dos and don’ts” to prevent coaching institutes from making “false claims” in advertisements regarding success rates of candidates. The draft guidelines will be approved and issued soon, Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Chief Commissioner and Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI. Singh, who headed the committee that prepared the draft guidelines, said several meetings were held for drafting the guidelines and the recent one was on January 8. Asserting that protection of consumer’s interest is a paramount concern for CCPA, Singh highlighted the need for clarity, specifically in addressing certain aspects related to advertisements with respect to coaching centers. “The committee observed that there is an urgent need to issue the guidelines and the draft as discussed in the (January 8) meeting should be issued at the earliest,” the CCPA said in a statement. According to the CCPA, the proposed guidelines will be applicable to all the coaching institutes, whether online or physical, and will cover all forms of advertisement regardless of form, format or medium. The draft guidelines prescribe conditions when an advertisement by a coaching institute will be construed to be a misleading advertisement under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 which inter-alia include concealing information related to the course opted by the successful candidates (whether free or paid) and duration of course, among others. As per the proposed guidelines, coaching institutes should not make false claims regarding success rates or number of selections and any other practices that may lead to consumer misunderstanding or subvert consumer autonomy and choice. Before coming up with advertisements, coaching institutes are required to follow “dos and don’ts”. For instance, coaching institute should mention requisite information along with the photo of a successful candidate. Details such as rank, type and duration of course and whether free or paid course need to be mentioned along with the photo of a successful candidate, according to the statement. Jan 09,2024 Source: Economic Times

Amazon India, announced on Wednesday, that it is expanding its consumer awareness campaign to the North Eastern states. The campaign titled “Mission GraHAQ” is a part of the company’s ongoing efforts to educate and empower consumers about online shopping and help build a trustworthy and safe experience for digital shoppers, Amazon said in a statement. “With this initiative, Amazon aims to proactively inform and educate consumers in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura about safe online shopping and reiterate its commitment to protecting consumers from bad actors,” the statement added. Amazon will reportedly be producing interactive radio programmes broadcasted three times a week on All India Radio (AIR), across 29 radio stations in the North East region. These broadcasts will be delivered in nine local languages most spoken in the region, ensuring accessibility and understanding. Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food And Public Distribution, lauded Amazon India for its proactive measures in enhancing consumer awareness regarding their rights and safety in online shopping. “Utilising radio broadcasts and delivering messages in local languages will empower consumers to fully comprehend the nuances of online shopping, fostering a deeper understanding of critical elements such as product information, online payments, grievance redressal, and consumer responsibilities,” he said. Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President of Public Policy at Amazon India, underlined the company’s unwavering dedication to providing a trustworthy and safe online shopping experience. “The Mission GraHAQ campaign embodies our commitment to educate consumers about their rights and empower them to make well-informed purchase decisions.” The three-month-long campaign, which began on October 31, is said to air radio spots in languages including Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Nagamese, Garo, Khasi, Nepali, Manipuri, and Mizo. These radio spots, a joint effort between Amazon and AIR, is also expected to cover various themes such as consumer rights, choice, available redressal mechanisms, and safe online shopping. Launched in 2022, the “Mission GraHAQ” campaign, according to Amazon, has already reached hundreds of thousands of consumers in over 100 cities across six states. Amazon India’s innovative approach, including street plays in local languages, has been instrumental in spreading information about trustworthy online shopping practices, the company added. Nov 01,2023 Source: CNBCTV18

When making a purchase, most people primarily focus on whether the price fits their budget, often neglecting other crucial considerations such as durability or expiry dates. This tendency marks the starting point of consumer awareness. Consumers frequently face exploitation from traders who provide incomplete or incorrect information, manipulate weights, overcharge, or sell substandard goods. These practices can harm customers not just financially but also pose health risks and mental stress. In today’s competitive, globalized landscape, manufacturers prioritize profit maximization, often resorting to aggressive and misleading advertising that disregards consumer interests. Therefore, it becomes crucial for consumers to be well-informed about the products or services they purchase, safeguarding their interests by understanding their rights, checking product details, scrutinizing legal documents before signing, and taking precautions, especially in significant purchases like property. For items like groceries and food products, checking manufacturing and expiry dates and the contents list becomes imperative to avoid health hazards like food poisoning. Understanding consumer rights in the realm of services is equally complex. Many are unaware of their rights, leading to instances where hospitals or financial entities manipulate individuals into signing incomprehensible forms, later using these as evidence of consent, much to the detriment of the consumer. Major Legislations for Consumer Protection in India  Consumer protection, however, is not a new concept. It has historical roots, dating back to ancient texts that emphasized regulating trade and safeguarding consumer interests. In modern India, the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 was a significant step, providing clauses for consumer protection in both goods and services. Amendments to this act are underway, highlighting the government’s continued efforts to strengthen consumer protection, as seen in the upcoming Consumer Protection Bill. Moreover, the government has introduced standards and measures such as ISI marks, Hallmarks for jewelry, and RERA for real estate, aiming to shield consumers from malpractices. Government initiatives like DBT and Ujjawala also aim to protect citizens from falling victim to fraudulent schemes. However, while the government implements schemes, consumers must also familiarize themselves with available grievance redressal mechanisms. Consumer redressal mechanisms, integrated into the Consumer Protection Act, include forums like lok adalats, district and national consumer dispute redressal authorities, where consumers can seek redressal for grievances. Ultimately, while the government takes steps to protect consumers, individuals must actively engage with protection mechanisms and exercise their rights when purchasing goods or services. Consumer protection is a shared responsibility, and individuals must take an active role in safeguarding their interests. Nov 30,2023 Source: Times Of India