Warm greetings to all on this special day of 15th March which serves as a reminder that businesses flourish and stay because of consumers. They deserve honesty, attention, respect and fairness.
World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year on March 15th as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and protection. On this day, the governments around the globe spread awareness about consumers’ rights and the remedies available to protect these rights. Focus is also laid on acknowledging and respecting these rights. Consumer Rights are associated with everyone. Even the sellers become consumers, when they buy for themselves.
World Consumer Rights Day is globally recognized and accredited by United Nations.
President John F. Kennedy was the driving force behind the creation of World Consumer Rights Day. He addressed the United States Congress on March 15, 1962, explicitly addressing the topic of consumer rights. He was the first leader in the world to do so. World Consumer Rights Day was celebrated for the first time in 1983. Since then, it has been celebrated globally on March 15 every year.
World Consumer Day 2023: Theme
The global theme for this year is “Empowering consumers through clean Energy Transitions”. The Membership of Consumers International organisation, comprising of 200 consumer groups in 100 countries help to select the annual theme.
A lot of campaigns are held on this day, in order to effect change and alteration in government policy in favour of consumers, if required. Campaigns also emphasise on effective enforcement and enhanced awareness on the part of consumers.
Governments have laws in place for protecting Consumer Rights as we in India have Consumer Protection Act 2019. The Act lists six consumer rights: –
- Right to safety
- Right to information
- Right to choose
- Right to be heard
- Right to seek redressal
- Right to consumer awareness
Effective enforcement on ground level is possible only when consumers are aware about their rights, duties and procedures. Willingness to come forward fearlessly is an important component enroute to mitigation of the factors responsible for rights violations. In this backdrop 15th March is of great significance when we renew our resolve to be aware and spread awareness. Believing that human memory is short, there is a need to have such campaigns regularly with shorter frequency intervals for larger and lasting awareness effect.
Vijay Bhat
