(a) whether the Government proposes to amend the Consumers Protection Act, 1986 to make it more stringent in order to ensure implementation of the decisions made under the said Act;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government for providing better infrastructure to the consumer courts?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI TASLIMUDDIN)
(a) & (b): A Working Group has been constituted in the
Ministry to suggest amendments to the Consumer Protection Act,
1986 to make it more effective and purposeful.
(c) : It is the responsibility of the State
Governments to establish consumer forums at the State and
district level and to provide all the required infrastructure
for their effective functioning. However, in order to
supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Central Govt.
has provided financial assistance of Rs. 10.20 crores during
the year 2004-2005 covering certain States for the present for
strengthening the infrastructure of consumer forums. Earlier,
Rs. 61.80 crores were given to all the States/UTs during the
period 1995-99 for the same purpose. The Ministry has also
launched a scheme of “Computerisation and Computer Networking
of Consumer Forums in the Country†through National
Informatics Centre (NIC) on turn key basis to improve their
efficiency and functioning.