Chandigarh.16th March,2021:World Consumer Rights Day celebrated Virtually today at Chandigarh on the topic of Sustained Consumer:Tackling Plastic Pollution by the Consumers Association Chandigarh and Department of Food & Supplies,Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology UT Chandigarh.
Program begin with an introduction of outline of the Program by Sh. N.K.Jhingan, Secretary, The Environment Society of India and Secretary Finance, Consumers Association Chandigarh who conveyed the theme of World Consumer Rights Day, 2021, i.e. Tackling Plastic Pollution and showed the video film on plastic pollution showing the ill effects of plastic which is destroying the planet.
This was followed by welcome address Sh. R K Kaplash, Chairman, Consumer Association Chandigarh, who raised the issue that it is not only the consumer who is responsible for plastic pollution, rather the Government should provide alternative of plastic to the people.
Ajay Jagga, Advocate, Addl Standing Counsel, UT, who was the key note speaker spoke about the history of World Consumer Rights day i.e., starting in 1962 by Sh. John F Kennedy, the then President of USA and then adoption of the consumer rights as a topic by United Nations in 1985 and then introduction of the special Consumer Protection Law in 1986. He also spoke on the existence of consumer rights in Ancient India during Manu and Kautilya and then during Moghul Rule and then British Rule and finally in independent India. He also spoke at length on today’s topic i.e. Tackling Pollution and told that the disposable masks are extremely dangerous, as announced by UK, conveying that these masks are having certain plastic thus people should use reusable Masks instead of Disposable Masks, Secondly all the hospitals, dispensaries, whether private or Govt must have proper waste management system otherwise virus is going to spread. And lastly the plastic toys should be banned and no children magazine should be permitted to publish articles or pictures or plastic toys, in the interest of environment. At the end the detailed the key features of the New Consumer Protection Law.
Sh. Tejdeep S Saini, Additional Director, Consumer Affairs spoke about efforts of the Chandigarh Administration to prevent the misuse of plastic and further enhancing the consumer awareness in city. Also spoke about various statistics of the Central Pollution Control Board, divulging the details of generation of plastic waste in India and thereafter the steps to control the same.
The Chief Guest of the day Justice Raj Shekhar Attri (Retd) Chairman, State Commission, Chandigarh who was Chief Guest on the occasion lauded the efforts of associations in the cause of consumer protection.
Justice Attari said that the worker and the slum dwellers, are not aware of their rights. They need to be made aware.
The theme of the webinar was to overcome the problem of plastic. The chief guest said that saving the environment today is a big issue. Plastic was started as a substitute for wood, but it gradually took a drastic form. It damages humans as well as other animals. Justice Attari directed Sh. Tejdeep Saini to take appropriate action against the burning of plastic so that it can be curbed.
He also informed that the Sector 19 Consumer Court is going to start the mediation center soon, which has been approved by the UT Administration Chandigarh.
