Special Correspondent
Silchar: On the completion of its 25 years of services to the consumers of Cachar, Grahak Suraksha Samiti has committed to serve them in a most holistic way and stand by them in their hour of need and fight for justice. In fact, GSS has been the only body in Cachar which has remained firm and decisive in its cause to uphold the rights of consumers and raise its voice against all sorts of deceptions by the traders, stockists, hoarders and unfair shop dealers, facing odds and oddities. And this very challenging and bold face of GSS has made it the only dependable body for the consumers.
"Our main objective has been to spread awareness among the consumers who are often the victims of various unfair practices in the market and how to meet the menace," pointed out Biplob Kumar Goswami, general secretary, GSS. For initiating and making the consumers' movement strong and effective, he recalls the contributions of its founder president Jyotindra Chandra Dutta, advocate, Anup Kumar Chowdhury, social activist Bhanu Shome and Dr Nabarun Purkayastha who are no more in this world.
Goswami said their organisation's main source of strength and inspiration has been the cross sections of people starting from tea workers, hard working organised and unorganised sectors' labour force, low and middle class people and even beyond that. GSS has been moving ahead with no support or back up from the state despite it being a registered body. He rued to say that they did get assurance from the then Deputy Commissioner of Cachar for permanent accommodation, but nothing emerged. "We continue to carry forward our mission solely based on will power and people's cooperation," added Goswami.
In order to ensure the rights of consumers more effectively, the Centre has put in action Consumers' Rights Protection Act, 2019, replacing 1986 Act. At the district level, District Consumers Commission has been constituted where an aggrieved consumer can seek redressal in case of any deception by filing compensation claim up to the limit of Rs 1 crore. GSS on its has given a new direction and dimension to the consumers' movement. Its fight for justice has been with monumental exchange of letters for the sake of aggrieved. Between 2010 and 2015, a number of scams and scandals have been exposed.
The Consumers' Body has been campaigning relentlessly to improve state health services, put an end to duping by unscrupulous traders in respect of weights and measures, adulterated consumable items, for ISI marking on gold products as well as contaminated drugs and medicines. Biplob Kumar Goswami recalls with gratitude Prof Deven Dutta who has on the forefront of consumers' movement in Assam. Prof Dutta always extended best wishes to GSS.
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