World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on March 15 every year for consumer protection and empowerment. On this day, people around the world promote the basic rights of all consumers and demand that those rights be respected and protected.
History:
On March 15, 1962, a special message was sent to the US Congress by President John F. Kennedy and hence the day was inspired by him. He was the first world leader to do so. The consumer movement first marked that date in 1983 and now uses the day every year to mobilise action on important issues and campaigns.
Theme:
This year’s theme is "Fair Digital Finance". Last year the theme of World Consumer Rights Day was 'Tackling Plastic Pollution' and in 2020 it was 'The Sustainable Consumer'.
Significance:
This day is celebrated to raise global awareness of consumer rights. This day is about customers' rights being recognized and acted upon. As consumers, we must all intentionally take actions that have a beneficial impact on us.
Here are some of the rights available to consumers:
Right to Safety
Means right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services, which are hazardous to life and property. The purchased goods and services availed of should not only meet their immediate needs, but also fulfill long-term interests.
Right to be Informed
Means right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.
Right to Choose
Means right to be assured, wherever possible of access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices. In the case of monopolies, it means right to be assured of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price. It also includes right to basic goods and services.
Right to be Heard
Means that consumers' interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums. It also includes right to be represented in various forums formed to consider the consumer's welfare.
Right to Seek redressal
Means right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers. It also includes right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances of the consumer.
Right to Consumer Education
Means the right to acquire the knowledge and skill to be an informed consumer throughout life. Ignorance of consumers, particularly of rural consumers, is mainly responsible for their exploitation. They should know their rights and must exercise them.
People many times get confused between World Consumer Day (which is celebrated on March 15) and National Consumer Rights Day (which is celebrated on December 24). Both days are observed to celebrate the same motive but they are just celebrated on different dates.
In India, the day for Consumer Rights is celebrated on December 24, because on this day in 1986, the president of India approved the Consumer Protection Act 1986 and it came into effect on the same day.