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| wise words ::. | | What is the difference between genius and stupidity? Genius has limits. - Albert Einstein. |
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| editorial. | 20/10/03 |
The Rights of the consumers
Mizoram is and has always been a sellers paradise. The consumer is invariably left holding the short end of the stick.
The store keepers/vendors always quote the high cost of transportation, rent, etc. as the many reasons why the customers are required to pay a premium for almost any product. The Mizo consumers with his 'tlawmngaihna' accepts the reasoning without a word.
But consumer activism is on the rise - at least according to the statistics. The number of cases brought before the Consumer Forum is increasing; but do we, the consumers, really benefit from such activity.
The Consumers Union often mediates on behalf of the consumers with govt. agencies and service provides; but here again the leaning is more on the side of the providers making one wonder whose side the union is on. For example the case of the cable television monthly charges, and also the bus and taxi fares.
With the centre's one point taxation policy, all factory produced goods are required to be labeled and clearly marked with a Maximum Retail Price inclusive of all taxes. It is arguable whether the manufacturer is overcharging the customer; but the retailer under no circumstances is to sell the product at a higher price than that marked on the package.
But, and this can only happen in a state like Mizoram, many goods which are taxable in Mizoram, are sold at the maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes plus the state sales tax!! The gullible consumer is made to understand that the "inclusive of all taxes" means all taxes payable in the producing state.
Why do the consumer, in the state with the second highest literacy rate in the whole of India, take all this lying down? It is time we woke up to the realities. We should not purchase any product or service at a higher price than what has been set out and accepted as. If we are forced by circumstances to pay a higher price we must approach the Consumer Forum for justice.
The question of overcharging is not about the specific amount. Even one paise above the fixed price should be made an issue of. The principle of Consumers Rights has to be held high. We should and indeed must get value for our hard earned money.
But can the consumer movement really be a success in Mizoram? Where daily we pay one rupee for a box of matches priced at fifty paise? Where sweets are handed in return for change which is not readily available? Where the vendor pleads 'min khawngaih rawh!' or 'a lawk lo tlat' ? Where, from time to time, some organisation or the other demands that we should not buy from shops where goods are sold at a lower price to safeguard our 'Hnam' ?
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