Agartala: About 53 per cent citizens of Tripura want enactment of a law to ensure right to basic needs, a Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International study on eight rights as per the UN guidelines revealed here on Saturday.
Referring to the revelation of research Advocate A L Saha, Chairman Consumer Coordination Council of India (CCCI) said lack of awareness about consumer rights protection laws and regulatory authorities appeared a cause of concern in the entire study area comprises 19 states and three union territories.
The study also highlighted that 31 per cent consumers of Tripura felt water supply was not safe for drinking while 20 per cent said they had to obtain LPG & kerosene mostly from black market and 74 per cent citizens demanded regulator for private schools operating in Tripura.
Responding to the report, Consumer Affairs Minister Manik Dey said, “There is an urgent need of a National Consumer Protection Authority to protect interest of consumers because now-a-days companies are adopting practice of putting profit first and consumers last.” He also opined for universalisation of public distribution system to provide at least 14 essential commodities including cooking oil, detergents, match boxes and rice and wheat at affordable price to all and added that the Essential Commodity Act, 1956 needs to be amended to confer powers to states for effective market regulation. (UNI)
