The Department of Consumer Affairs, under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has been implementing several schemes and campaigns to create consumer awareness in the country. Some of these can be listed as follows:-

• During 10th Five Year Plan, Central plan scheme on consumer awareness was launched with a total outlay of Rs. 15 crores. In the last 2 years of 10th Plan, the outlay was stepped up to Rs. 69.4 crores each year.
• During 11th Five Year Plan, the scheme on consumer affairs with an outlay of Rs. 409 has been approved. An amount of Rs. 45 crores was spent on the above scheme during 2007-08. In the financial year 2008-09, with an outlay of Rs. 75 crores, the following activities are being undertaken as part of the consumer awareness scheme:-
  
  
• Release of print advertisements through national as well as regional newspapers in English, Hindi and other regional languages through DAVP.
• Video spots on various consumer related issues such as MRP, ISI mark, Hallmarking of gold, expiry date, grievance redressal system, consumer forums, weights and measures, etc. are being telecast through the vast network of DD National, DD news, DD India, DD Bharti, Lok Sabha TV and Regional Kendras of Doordarshan as well as through Satellite Channels like Sony, Star Plus, Zee TV Network, etc.
• Audio spots through All India Radio (AIR) and private FM channels through DAVP.
• Tie-up with Department of Post for display of posters regarding consumer awareness. Dissemination of Meghdoot Post Cards to reach far-flung rural areas including North-Eastern States.
• Printing and distribution of publicity material through DAVP.
• Release of advertisements through the journals of Publication Division under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to spread the message of consumer awareness.
• Outdoor publicity through Song and Drama Division of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting which has organized more than 1000 programmes in all the States/UTs to create awareness at grassroot level.
  
  
• As part of the consumer awareness scheme, the Department is also in the process of launching joint publicity campaign with such Ministries/Departments that are directly dealing with issues involving consumers, such as, Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, etc. A joint publicity campaign with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is already underway.

Further, the Department of Consumer Affairs is operating the Consumer Welfare Fund with the overall objective of providing financial assistance for promoting and protecting the welfare of the consumers as well as strengthening the voluntary consumer movement in the country, particularly in the rural areas. So far, a sum of about Rs. 136.60 Crores has accrued to the Fund and an expenditure of Rs. 44.76 Crores have been incurred.

The scheme of Consumer Clubs, under the Consumer Welfare Fund, was launched in 2002, according to which a consumer club to be set up in each Middle/Higher/Higher Secondary Schools/Colleges affiliated to a government recognized Board/University.  A grant of Rs. 10,000 per consumer club is admissible under this scheme. This scheme has been decentralised and transferred to the Governments of States/UTs with effect from 1.04.2004.

One of the important scheme under Consumer Welfare Fund is the 'Scheme on Promoting Involvement of Research Institutions/ Universities and Colleges in Consumer Protection and Consumer Welfare' which is being administered by Centre for Consumer Studies (CCS), Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). The objectives of the Scheme are to:

• Sponsor research and evaluation studies in the field of consumer welfare ;
• Identify and provide solution to the practical problems faced by consumers;
• Have necessary inputs for formulation of policy/program/ scheme for the protection and welfare of consumers;
• Provide grants for publication of the results of research and evaluation studies and other related literature ; and
• Sponsor Seminars/Workshops/Conferences, etc. on consumer related issues and to sanction grants for organizing such programs.

Centre for Consumer Studies (CCS) has been set up as a dedicated centre under IIPA to give boost to the efforts of the Government in the area of consumer protection and consumer welfare. The aim of the Centre is to perform, facilitate and promote better protection of consumers’ rights and interests with special reference to rural India. The other objectives of the Centre are to:

• Conduct/ facilitate in-depth action research in the area of consumer protection and consumer welfare;
  
• Organize and help other organizations in training of personnel engaged in administration and adjudication of consumer justice in the country;
  
• Network with the other institutions/ organisations, nationally and internationally, working for the cause of consumer rights protection;
  
• Organise seminars/ workshops/ conferences/ round tables on the contemporary issues relating to consumer protection;
  
• Sensitise trade and industry and the service providers to the requirements of the consumers, especially to alternative and informal mechanisms to resolve their complaints and redress their grievances;
  
• Create resource center for future research and publish books/ monographs/ occasional papers to fill up existing knowledge gap; and
  
• Provide policy inputs to the Department of Consumer Affairs from time to time.

Besides, A Consumer Online Research and Empowerment (CORE) Centre has been set up in collaboration with Consumer Coordination Council (CCC). It is intended to provide the most scientific and effective system of collection and dissemination of consumer related information to generate consumer awareness and empowerment of all sections of the society. It is the only authorized agency of Department of Consumer Affairs to handle online consumer complaints for redressal through mediation. By accessing the online Complaint Redressal System in the CORE, the consumers can register themselves and lodge their grievance online.

National Consumer Helpline project has also been launched by the Department of Consumer Affairs in coordination with Delhi University, Department of Commerce, at an approved cost of Rs. 3.12 crores. Consumers from all over the country can dial toll-free number 1800-11-4000 and seek telephonic for problems that they face as consumers. The Helpline intends to deal with problems related to telecom, courier, banking, insurance, financial services, etc. It seeks to provide assistance for out of court settlements of consumer disputes as well as create awareness amongst consumers regarding their rights and responsibilities. From the monthly reports received, it is seen that 36826 calls have been received in the Helpline from January 2007 to 31st December 2007, from 31 States/UTs across the country. So far, a sum of Rs. 205.5 lakhs has been released for this project. The timing of toll free number facility available to consumers is from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on all working days (Monday-Saturday).

Moreover, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) also has a full fledged Grievance Cell functioning at its Headquarter in Delhi with Public Grievance Officers at all its Regional and Branch Offices to provide consumers with prompt attention and speedy redressal of their grievances. Consumers can lodge the complain regarding the following:-

• Quality of BIS certified product.
• Services of BIS such as sales, library, technical information services, general services, etc.
• Activities of BIS such as standard formulation, product and management systems certification, laboratory testing, etc.
• Unauthorized use of BIS Standard Mark by licensees/applicants/others.
• Irregularities in operation and misuse of licence by BIS licensees.
• False/misleading advertisements and claims by licensees/applicants/non-licensees.
• Delays in grant/renewal of licensees, etc.

All such initiatives and steps taken by the Central Government proved very beneficial for promoting education and awareness among consumers. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of their rights and responsibilities; having greater access to wealth of information regarding basic consumer issues as well as making proper use of Grievance redressal system of the Government.