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28
MAY 2004 - Consumer Awareness Camp
As part of the action plan for the entire
year to create Consumer Awareness in the state of Goa, a function of Consumer Awareness Camp was organize by the Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department for the entire Salcete Taluka at the Margao Municipal Hall at 11.00 am.
In the welcome speech by the Chairperson of Margao Municipal Council Smt. Poinginkar called for a
Cordial and healthy relation between customer and business community as one is depended on other. She advised the customer and business people present to listen to the speakers who will be delivering speech on right and duties of a consumer.
The Director of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs who hosted the Camp welcomed the guest dignitaries which included the Hon’ble Minister Shri. Manohar. Azgaokar, for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Shri. Digamber Kamat , Minister for Power and others on the dais.
Director of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, gave information on Right & Duties of consumer as conferred under consumer protection Act. 1986.
Minister of Civil Supplies :-
The Hon’ble Minister for Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs said that with exception of few cases, most of the cases are seem to be filed against builders in the District Forum /State Commission when there are so many instance of malpractice, unfair trade practice in the daily transactions. He called on the consumer all over Goa, as he appealed in other such meeting in other Talukas to wake up to wipe the tag given to “Susegad Goenkar” by filing complains and keeping the trader on check to give quality services and products.
Minister for Power:-
The Minister for power & Urban development said that in today’s market driven economy when we talk about liberalization and globalization Consumer is a king. So every department should have constant/frequent interaction with the public and try to put themselves in the shoes of the consumer and avoid calling public again and again, if this sought of attitude is practiced then only we can call that Goa is having a good governance system.
A Talk on water conservation by Dr. Tendulkar & Shri. Shantanu Garud.
In a brief but an valuable sharing of knowledge on the topic of water conservation the representative said the water shed development is a integrated programme which includes soil conservation, a forestation, building bunds, etc. The simplest thing which we can as a consumer/lay person do is make the water dry in the soil instead of letting it run by putting water proofing outside the houses/by building cement/concreted drainages.
One principle which the speaker gave for water conservation was that if the water flow, than we should make bandaras and try to block. In case of running of water make it crawl by putting some holes/flooring of drainage should be build with laterite stones rather than concreting the way, and when water current is less make it stop. Thus this will help soil erosion and also water conservation.
They assured the voluntary organization, consumers activist, semi-Government Authorities etc. if they can identify any places in Goa which is ready to implement such technic of water conservation than they can call on them and they will be very happy in assisting them with their technical know-how/technocrat.
In the second session which was mainly dominated by a brief talk by Chief Engg. Electricity and question asked by consumers to the attending officials. To a question an irregular distribution of bill the Chief Engg. Said affords/modalities will be worked out to distribute bill on monthly bases and said it was due to lack of billing clerks/meter readers.
To another question/request of consumer activities to supply with tariff and meter reading chart at each household, change of billing papers and issuance of bills on better quality paper he said we will study the matter and will take up with appropriate steps.
The consumers also wanted to know from the Chief Engg. Whether any relief for interrupted power supply was given by the Government. The official informed that all out efforts are made to restore the supply at the earliest.
To a question on arrears the official said if the bill amount is paid on the pay date or before, arrears should not be paid in the subsequent bill.
The consumers wanted/desired to know whether there is any standard format for making complain for meter not functioning, if not, they requested to make such formats for the convenience of power consumers. They also mooted an idea of having one day in a month specially kept for listing complain at the Head Office. So that complain which could not be cleared at the local offices may be referred at the higher level which the official of the electricity agreed look into.
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