In order to prevent exorbitant rates and defending the interest of consumers, Minister for C&PD and Tribal Affairs Ch. Zulfkar Ali today convened a high level meeting to discuss strategies for making consumers aware about the rates of perishable commodities.The meeting held detailed deliberations on various means of communication like use of TV, Radio, Print media, bulk SMS services for making aware consumers daily about the rates of consumable items besides creating single portal application (for mobile phones) which will carry all necessary information for the benefit of consumers and initially will cover two main cities of the state. He sought early proposal in this regard from telecommunication companies.Stressing on the long lasting strategies for protecting the interest of consumers, the Minister said that the right of the consumers is to know the rates of every perishable items on daily basis.
The Minister constituted a committee headed by Secretary Horticulture which includes representatives from CA&PD, Telecommunications, JAKEGA, NIC and asked them to work out modalities and prepare a comprehensive multi-prolonged action plan for its implementation. Expressing dismay over the exorbitant rates charged by vegetables vendors, the Minister said that government is keen to put in place a concrete system for controlling such activities on essential commodities besides protecting the rights of consumers. Administrative Secretaries of CAPD, Agriculture & Horticulture, Director Agriculture, General Manager BSNL besides representatives of JAKEGA, Horticulture attended the meeting. Earlier, the Minister while interacting with dealers association of Rajouri district said that Department is mulling converting all Fair Price Shops (FPS) into multi-utility stores to facilitate the general public by providing all basic items at reasonable rates fixed by the government. The Minister said these multi-utility stores will help the low income families to avail the commodities at subsidized rates.