Goel raises issue of MRP in Rajya Sabha
Display Minimum, and not Maximum price on products – Goel
New Delhi, August 6, 2019: Sharing his views on the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 introduced in the Rajya Sabha today, MP and senior BJP leader Vijay Goel said that the bill is unexpectedly silent on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), while the MRP is increasingly becoming the centre of the biggest loot in the market. He said it would hold consumers in good stead if instead of maximum, the minimum price is displayed on products as items are priced 3-4 times higher than they should have been.
Commenting on the "Jago Grahak Jago" campaign, Goel said that while one commercial asks customers not to pay beyond the MRP, another commercial asks customers to bargain on the MRP. Goel thanked Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Ramvilas Paswan for bringing a new bill after over three decades in order to provide convenience and more rights to the consumers.
Sharing his suggestions on the Bill, Goel said that while the new laws in the consumers’ interests are welcomed, the government should equally focus on moral education and consumer awareness. The government spends Rs 62 crore every year on awareness, but it manages to reach out to mere 2-3% of the people. The bill proposes to set up three agencies – Central Consumer Protection Authority, Central Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, and Central Consumer Protection Council. Since the names of Authority and the Council appear similar, keeping in the view of the nature of Council's work, Goel suggested naming the Central Consumer Protection Council as Consumer Advisory council so that aggrieved customers do not face any confusion while registering their complaints.
Referring to the report of Boston Consulting Group, Goel said that India has become the largest consumer market in the world and it is set to become bigger in the future. It thus becomes imperative on the part of the government to work on consumer awareness and disposal of their grievances. Every year 1.5 lakh customers register their complaints in various consumer forums in India, and this number is bound to increase in the time to come. About 5 lakh complaints are already pending in various consumer forums.
