World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on March 15 each year to spread awareness regarding consumer rights. It an initiative by Consumer International, a membership organization for consumer groups around the world.

World Consumer Rights Day is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the global consumer movement. The day celebrates consumer rights and builds a world where everyone has access to safe and sustainable products and services.

It was inspired by former president John F Kennedy, when he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights back in 1962. The first consumer movement was started in 1983 and now each year it is celebrated to mobilise action on important issues and campaigns.

The theme for ‘World Consumers Right Day 2019’ is ‘Trusted Smart Products’ As the increased popularity of smart gadgets like smart phones to wearable fitness trackers, to voice-activated assistants and smart TVs have made our lives simpler, but at the time have established a sort of interdependency. The aim behind this theme is to highlight the needs and wants of consumers from a connected world and to put them at the core of the development of such products and services.

For this, the government of India has also undertaken several initiatives to protect the rights of consumers, which stem from the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 that gives Indian customers some basic rights but the lack of awareness remains a big challenge for the people.

On this World Consumer Rights Day, here are some of the rights that we hold as a consumer in India.

The right to be protected from all kind of hazardous goods and services

The right to be fully informed about the performance and quality of all goods and services

The right to free choice of goods and services

The right to be heard in all decision-making processes related to consumer interests

The right to seek redressal whenever consumer rights have been infringed

The right to complete consumer education

  consumer, HUMAN RIGHTS