At the State level, the organisational set up for protection
and promotion of consumer rights includes, a separate Department which
deals with all issues relating to consumer affairs; a State Consumer Disputes
Redressal Commission and District Forums in all or some of the districts
of the particular State; State Consumer Protection Council and District
Consumer Protection Councils. Some of them are as follows:
Kerala
The
Department
of Civil Supplies , Government of Kerala discharges the important
responsibilities of public distribution, enforcement of markets discipline
and promotion of consumer awareness and protection of their interest.
It functions under the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer
Affairs of the Government of Kerala. As per the Consumer Protection Act
1986, Government of Kerala has set up the
Kerala
State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and
14
District Fora.
West Bengal
The
Department
of Consumer Affairs , Government of West Bengal was set up in September
1999 for protecting the interest of consumers. Also,
West
Bengal Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and
20
District Fora have been set up. A
Directorate
of Consumer Affairs & Fair Business Practices has also been
functioning under the department since 2001, with offices in every
district and important subdivisions. Besides,
Kolkata
Consumers Protection Council was constituted as well as District Consumer
Protection Council has been created in every district.
Madhya Pradesh
Department
of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection , Government of Madhya
Pradesh has been set up with the objective to ensure availability of essential
commodities and check malpractices in supply and trade of foodgrains,
petroleum products, sugar and other notified items. In the field of consumer
protection, the department is entrusted with the smooth functioning of
Consumer Grievances Redressal Forums at the State and the District level.
Also
Madhya Pradesh
State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission was constituted in the
year 1990 and around
45
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums are also present in the
State.
Tamil Nadu
Department
of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, of Government of Tamil
Nadu has been set up with the following objectives: (i) to spread awareness
on consumer rights amongst all consumer segments; (ii) to sensitise manufacturers,
service providers on consumer rights and quality; (iii) to help consumers
get justice when affected; (iv) to continuously assess policy changes
required in each sector for consumer empowerment; (v) to identify and
weed out unfair trade practices in delivery of goods as well as services;
and (vi) to promote sustainable consumption. Also, Tamil Nadu State Consumer
Disputes Redressal Commission,
Tamil
Nadu State Consumer Protection Council and District Consumer Protection
Councils have been set up. Most of the districts in the State have a
District
Consumer Forum and around 31 of them are functioning in the State.
Goa
Department
of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Government of Goa plays
a bi-lateral role in two sectors i.e. matter related to Civil Supplies
and Consumer Affairs. With regards to consumer affairs, the department
is observing dual responsibility of creating awareness amongst consumers
and protecting their rights. To protect and guard the interest of the
consumers in Goa and to make available to them the means to assert their
Consumer rights and to redress their grievances the free, fair and independent
Goa
State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and the
District
Consumer Disputes Redressal Fora North and South Goa are established
and are functioning in Goa since 1991 & 1989 respectively.
Delhi
Department
of Food & Supplies, Government of Delhi, manages Public Distribution
System (PDS) in Delhi for regulating production, supply and distribution
of, and trade and commerce in, essential commodities with a view to maintain
or increase supplies thereof and secure their equitable distribution and
availability at fair prices Consumer Affairs Wing of the department provides
for better protection of interest of consumers by setting up
Delhi
State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and District fora for
redressal of consumers disputes, as provided under the
Consumer Protection
Act, 1986 . The Consumer Affairs Wing is engaged in redressing consumers'
grievances and protecting their rights; creating consumer awareness; and
developing a strong consumer protection movement in Delhi. In Delhi
10
District Forums are functioning in various parts of Delhi.
Odisha
Department of Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare ,Government of
Odisha has been set up with the objectives of ensuring distribution of
PDS commodities to the people at reasonable prices and to act as a catalyst
to strengthen the consumer protection movement in the State. Under the
provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, the State Government
has established 31 District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums (known
as District Forums) and a State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
(known as State Commission).
Himachal Pradesh
Department
of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Government of Himachal
Pradesh has been set up with the basic responsibility of the department
is the enforcement of various control orders against the Essential Commodities
Act, 1955 for price stabilization and matter relating to weights &
measures. A
Himachal
Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and around
12
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums have been functioning
in the State.