Correspondent
KOHIMA, JUN 30 (NPN): Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection (DLMCP), Kohima, conducted a consumer awareness programme under the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumer” at Don Bosco School, Kohima, on Tuesday.
Addressing the programme, Additional Controller and Head of Department, Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection, Limatoshi Jamir, said consumers must strive to become confident and well-informed. He observed that confident consumers were still difficult to find, particularly in rural areas, and stressed the need to empower people through greater awareness.
Limatoshi said manufacturers and service providers were required to make several mandatory declarations on goods and services, and urged consumers to carefully examine the quality and standards of products before making purchases. He maintained that society would benefit when consumers became smart and informed, and encouraged students to understand both their rights and responsibilities.
Stating that consumers should know what was right and wrong, he advised the students to make informed decisions and become wise and conscious consumers capable of identifying the best choices for themselves.
Speaking as the resource person, advocate and retainer lawyer of Kohima District Legal Services Authority, Sunjib Rana, highlighted the significance of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, stating that the legislation empowered consumers and safeguarded their rights. He urged consumers to ensure that the products they purchased from the market were safe and secure, and emphasised that every consumer had the right to choose products freely. He also encouraged the students to remain informed about their rights and to seek appropriate redress whenever they encountered any irregularities or unfair trade practices.
Earlier, Assistant Controller, Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection, Kohima, Shiekhozo, highlighted the role and activities of the department. He said the department played a vital role in ensuring fair trade practices, accurate weights and measures, and the protection of consumer rights through enforcement of standards, prevention of commercial malpractices and redressal of consumer grievances.
He informed that the department had been conducting a series of consumer awareness programmes in educational institutions as well as with various non-governmental organisations across the district.
The programme began with a welcome address by Don Bosco School principal, Fr. Panmei Innocent Liangkamang, while Silo Jemu, Inspector, Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection, Kohima, chaired the event.