The district administration Jammu has decided to launch a reinforcement drive to regulate market prices of daily consumable items and check overcharging by fruit and vegetable traders.The decision was taken at a meeting of District Consumer Protection Council held here today under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh.The meeting deliberated upon the issues pertaining to consumer rights and the role of different Govt departments in implementing laws related to consumer protection.Representatives of Consumer Welfare Organisations highlighted the high incidence of food adulteration, high rates of perishable items in particular vegetables and highlighted other related concerns.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu advised the Traders’ associations to ensure that traders make available quality products at reasonable rates. The meeting also decided to hold awareness camps at prominent market and public places to sensitize all stakeholders about the quality norms, related laws as well as rights available to the consumers.Concerns were expressed about the variation in rates of vegetables and fruits being charged by different vendors with the participants stressing upon the need for putting in place a close regulatory mechanism.Horticulture department and Jammu Municipal Corporation were instructed to collect information about all such vendors and devise mechanism for communicating rates published on daily basis at different mandies to all the concerned .
The meeting also called for launching an extensive media campaign to create awareness on different issues concerning consumer rights and applicable laws. It was also emphasised that concerted efforts shall be made in providing services to the tourists, especially yatries at reasonable prices. The enforcement wing of Tourism department was asked to ensure that violators are booked wherever cases of cheating are noticed. The meeting was attended by SSP, Addl. Deputy Commissioners, Sub Divisional Magistrates, Deputy Controller Legal Metrology, (Consumer Protection), Jammu, Deputy Director, Enforcement Tourism Department Jammu, Health Officer, JMC, Asstt. Commissioner Food & Safety, Asstt. Director, CAPD, Vikram Gour President CWA, Y.P. Gupta President and Ravi Mahajan Chairman JPYM Jammu.