Government gives legal counselling for consumers

New Delhi, March 17: A government legal advocacy programme to help consumers seek redressal against corporates on products and services will be started soon, Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Pawar said here Friday.

The proposed programme would provide legal assistance and counselling and help aggrieved consumers seek court help for getting their grievances addressed, the minister said at a function organised to mark the World Consumer Rights Day, which could not be held on March 15 due to Holi.

"We are going to start consumer legal advocacy programme for those who are not able to get their problems redressed through consumer courts," Pawar said.

Consumer activists would be trained in the task of providing the necessary one-to-one counselling to consumers.

The minister admitted that the consumer helpline, started by the Department of Consumer Affairs, had not proved adequate in many cases.

"We are also trying to amend the Consumer Protection Act 1986," said Pawar assuring that a decision on some viable proposals suggested to the government would be taken very soon.