24th Dec observed as the National Consumers Day

NATIONAL  CONSUMER  DAY 2017 CELEBRATIONS   AT RANGPOO ON 24TH DEC,2017

The Federation of Consumers Association, Sikkim organized a day long program for the Observation & Celebration of National Consumer  Day 2017 at Rangpoo ,East Sikkim on 24th Dec,2017.

The program started with the Welcome address and program briefing by Shri Rohit K Pradhan, General Secretary of the Federation. He also informed and explained the gathering about the theme of National Consumer Day 2017 which was “ Emerging Digital Markets : Issues & Challenges in Consumer Protection.”

In order to facilitate the general audience / public attending the program, the Federation had invited Resource Persons from different areas of expertise to give talk in their respective subjects. Shri C.K.Sharma, Joint Controller of Legal Metrology & Consumer Affairs Department spoke at length about the various rights and safeguards provided by the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and such other relevant act and statutory provisions. He also responded with appropriate relief available to the various questions raised by the audience on different issues that they were facing.

Shri John  Lepcha, Dy Commissioner of the Commercial Taxes Department, Govt of Sikkim also gave a very useful information about the GST and its implications to the common people and also advised them not to pay any excess of MRP in the pretext of GST by the traders.

Shri S.K.Pradhan, Ex Additional Secretary to the Govt of Sikkim also gave a very fruitful talks on the present scenario of digital markets and precautionary measures to be taken while making any kind of transactions online.

The Program had the presence of Shri Ganesh Kumar Chettri, Zilla Panchayat from  West Pendam Constituency as the Chief Guest and Shri Bikash Tiwari, SHO,Rangpoo Police Station and Shri Dronacharya Sapkota, Panchayat President of Central Pendam GPU as the Guest of Honour and  the PI Traffic, Central Pendam GPU Members and Miss Anavi Baniya, a pre-teen international taekwondo sensation of Sikkim, Sanjay Agarwal along with press & media personals as the special guests along with large number of representatives of NGOs, Cooperatives, tourism & other departmental officials, school students and general public.

During the interaction session in the program, the consumers shared about various instances of consumers being exploited and sought redressal procedures which was followed by an open and very lively and brainstorming QUIZ session on Consumer topics.

The federation of Consumers Association of Sikkim has always been giving away an AWARD by the name of CONCERNED CONSUMER of the YEAR. And this year, this award was conferred on to Ms Namita Chettri of Rangpoo who has been very active and conscious about consumerism and exercising her consumer rights in the region as well as her contribution on various social causes. The program were enthralled by the cultural program presented by the members of the SQUARE CREW of Rangpoo Bazar.

Shri Bikash Tiwari, SHO, Rangpoo , while speaking on the occasion appreciated this informative program and informed and appraised that the provision of IPC are also applicable to certain cases of the offenders of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and Shri Drona Sapkota, President of Central Pendam GPU gave a very informative & useful  points to ponder by the consumers of our state.

The Chief Guest of the function, Shri Ganesh Kr Chettri, in his address stressed the need of the hour to act upon by every one of us for the protection and safeguard of our innocent customer  of our state and urged everyone to exercise their consumer rights.

The program ended with a Vote of Thanks by Shri Sekhar Khatiwara, Secretary/FCAS and Hosted by Shri Suresh Lama ,Chief Coordinator/FCAS.