Consumer Events & Programmes

Workshop on Unfair Trade Practices

‘Unfair Trade Practices’ become a common phenomenon adopted by various traders and service providers as a sales promotion technique which normally affects the basic rights of consumers as envisaged in Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, as the nodal department to find out ways and means to create awareness among consumers against exploitation of their rights in any manner, is conducting periodical meetings with consumer organizations along with service providers. In this process certain complaints were received through consumer associations regarding problems faced by consumers due to ‘Unfair Trade Practices’ of certain unethical traders / service providers. In order to discuss the issue in detail and to find out ways and means to prevent consumers from unfair trade practices a ‘One Day workshop on Unfair Trade Practices’ was organized by the Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection through Anna Institute of management, Chennai, a Government of Tamil Nadu undertaking 17.11.2007 along with Officials dealing with Consumer Affairs and Representative from the Traders’ Sector with Members of Voluntary Consumer Organizations and General Public.

Photos

	UTP Awareness Guide was released by Thiru.K. Rajaraman, IAS, Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department. The first copy was received by  Prof. Ram Prabhu, Dean Anna Institute of Management
	Thiru.M. Vijayakumar, District Revenue Officer, Anna Institute of Management  expressed his suggestions
	Participants of the Seminar
	Sessions of the Seminar

Recommendations of The UTP Seminar

1. UTP Cells have to be formed at District level

2. CP Act has to be amended wherever necessary

3. GOI will be addressed regarding Competitive Commission

4. State Level / District Help line has to be initiated

5. State level / District level UTP Cell has to be formulated (with toll free phone and web on line)

6. Training has to be imparted to all state Government field level workers who involve in the process of eradicating UTP

7. Necessary measures have to be taken for the Consumer Disputes Redressal Fora to work with greater sensitivity and early disposal of cases 

8. Media awareness campaign at district levels has to be initiated

9. District level / regional level seminars have to be conducted.

10. Training on UTPs for State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission members and Presidents / Members of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum

11. Follow-up on UTP cases identified and rectified

12. Vacancies of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum members / Presidents to be filled up

13. Each district should have separate Consumer Courts to enable speedy resolution of consumer protection cases especially UTPs

14. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission may be requested to train District Forum Presidents / Members to grant interim orders wherever necessary, especially in case of UTP

15. Director General of Police may be requested to write to all SPs regarding UTP and need to assist VCOs with action under the laws especially during festival seasons.

16. Keeping in mind UTPs like Multi Level Marketing, necessary amendments to the Tamil Nadu Prize Schemes Act may be considered by Government.