Right to safety

This consumer right states that every consumer has right to be protected against the goods and services which are hazardous to health and property. With this right producer need to strictly follow the rules and regulations for safety of the consumers. For example, manufacturing defect in appliances such as pressure cooker, gas cylinder can lead to severe effects to the consumer’s health and property. Selling expired medicines can lead to severe health problems, constructing a tall building at a place which is unsafe for such construction, death of the person because of negligence of the doctor.

Right to information

This right states that every consumer has right to be informed about the details of the goods and services that they purchase. Examples of such details are

• Ingredients used
• Price (MRP – Maximum Retail Price)
• Batch number
• Date of manufacture
• Expiry date
• Address of the manufacturer
• Direction for proper use
• For medicines : Side effects of the product particularly medicines
• For clothes: Instruction for washing

If consumer finds that the product does not meet the standards mentioned on the product then he can file a complaint and ask for compensation or replacement. Indian government further expanded this right by enacting the RTI (Right to Information) Act, in October 2005 so that consumers get information about government departments. However, with this act peoples can complain about bad roads, poor water and health facilities, delay in scholarship.

Right to choice

This right states that consumers have right to choose the product and services as per his / her wish. Many times consumers are forced to buy things that they did not wish to buy, but they have left with no choice. For example while taking a new connection gas supplier insist to buy stove from them. Shopkeepers force the consumer to buy a reference book with a text book even if consumer interested only in text book. For this right government ensures that wherever possible consumer will have access to variety of products and services at fair price.

Right to seek redressal

Sometimes consumers come across agencies or businesses that provide unsatisfactory services, low quality goods moreover often these agencies refuse to provide information.
Under such circumstances this right states that every consumer has right to get justice and compensation for the damage. For example A father sending money order to his son at distant place. After many days the money has not been reached to his son. Father went to the post office and enquired about the service. The post office workers did not answer him satisfactorily. In such case father reported a complaint in local consumer forum. After some days the consumer court given justice to him.

Right to represent

This right states that consumer has right to represent his claims in the court against the fraud or exploitation.
under COPRA consumers are provided with the consumer courts for addressing the consumer exploitation and give justice.The courts are set up at three levels. If Consumers did not get satisfactory justice from low level courts then he has right to represent in higher level court.
A District level court deals with the complaints involving claims of upto 20 lakhs.
State level court deals with the complaints involving claims between 20 lakhs and 1 crore.
However a National level court deals with the complaints involving claims of above 1 crore.

Right to consumer education

This right states that every consumer has right to acquire knowledge and skills to become a well informed consumer. A consumer can make intelligent choice only if he has sufficient knowledge and skills to discriminate the goods or services of his interest.
With this right a consumer should get an easy access to informational programs and material that enhance their consumer education. For example Formal education will include consumer rights. TV programs that bring consumer awareness. Awareness programs by NGOs, consumer protection councils
Products marked with ISI, Agmark and Hallmark are the products with assured quality.
The producers that produces products that can affect the health and safety of the consumer such as LPG cylinder, food and color additives, cement must certify their product from these organisations.
Keywords: Right to Safety, Right to information, Right to choice, Right to seek redressal, Right to represent, Right to consumer education

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