Consumer awareness and home/resource management
Consumer rights
Under the Consumer Protection Act 2019: safety, information, choice, being heard, redressal, consumer education, and protection against unfair trade practices. A consumer is anyone who buys goods or hires services for consideration, including online buyers.
Redressal
Three tiers: District Commission up to ₹1 crore, State Commission from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore, National Commission above ₹10 crore. Complaints are normally filed within two years of the cause of action, and e-daakhil allows online filing.
Standards and labels
ISI/BIS mark for quality (mandatory for some goods), Agmark for agricultural produce, FPO for fruit products, Hallmark for gold, Ecomark for environment-friendly goods. Labels must show manufacturer name and address, net quantity, date of manufacture, expiry or best-before, batch, ingredients and MRP inclusive of taxes. Selling above MRP or with a tampered seal is an offence, and vegetarian or non-vegetarian logos are required on packaged food.
Adulteration tests
Iodine on a drop of milk turns blue-black if starch is present; a drop of milk in water leaves a white trail if detergent is present.
Resource management
Plan a budget - income, fixed and variable expenses, savings; use time plans and work simplification (combining tasks, right tools, good posture); save energy with pan lids, soaked pulses and switching off appliances.
Worked example
A shopper finds weevils in a sealed branded packet and the shopkeeper refuses help. The packet, bill and expiry date are evidence; seller and manufacturer are both liable; complain in writing first, then approach the District Commission for replacement or compensation.
Marks-losing traps
The ISI mark shows a product meets a standard, not that it is the best available; MRP is the maximum price, never a minimum; GST is already included in MRP.