In a first, Centre brings regulators, industry on board to redress consumer grievances

Got a complaint? Have it heard. In a first, the ministry of consumer affairs has brought together various regulators, big companies and industry bodies to facilitate the registration of consumer grievances on the spot and also enlighten them on their rights.

The consumer mela in progress in New Delhi.

Got a complaint? Have it heard. In a first, the ministry of consumer affairs has brought together various regulators, big companies and industry bodies to facilitate the registration of consumer grievances on the spot and also enlighten them on their rights. Not just this, expect nukkad nataks on consumer awareness and cleanliness, and poster-making competitions by schoolchildren for the rest of the month to sensitise consumers.

With Diwali round the corner, when both sales of companies and complaints on products touch new highs almost every year, the consumer mela and other initiatives by the ministry come at an opportune time.

A couple of days back, the 2,000-odd people thronging Central Park in Connaught Place in New Delhi for a consumer mela were in for a pleasant surprise to have representatives of big companies, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Amazon, Reliance Communications, Tata Motors, Amway, HDFC Bank, LIC, Hero Motors, Make My Trip, Geetanjali, ITC and Panasonic, all ears to their queries and complaints. Many complaints were registered at the stalls put up by these companies — some resolved on the spot, while promises were made for quick redress of other grievances.

The government plans to organise a similar mela in March every year in the national capital, a senior official told FE. He added the fair will see greater participation in the coming years, “once more and more people get to know about it and see their complaints being handled by big companies with professionalism”. The government is considering replicating the idea in various parts of the country to create an impact among consumers about their rights, he added.

The mela, inaugurated by food and consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan, also saw regulators including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) putting up their stalls. Industry bodies such as CII, Assocham, Ficci and PHD Chambers were partners in this initiative. Consumers were told about various apps through which they can register complaints easily. For instance, using the FSSAI app, people can register their complaints against the quality of packaged food and also the items served in any restaurant. Also, they can go online to register complaints on www.consumerhelpline.gov.in on any product.

Already, to help resolve consumer complaints involving e-commerce players, the government has tied up with 200-odd such companies, including the prominent ones. The consumer affairs ministry forwards consumer query to these players and seeks necessary inputs.

The National Consumer Helpline took part in the mela to educate consumers about their rights and responsibilities, the procedure for seeking grievance redressal, and help them register grievances on the spot.

Eatery gets notice over 'stale' food at Science City

Lucknow: Taking cognizance of reports about alleged stale food at Regional Science City, chief development officer Prashant Sharmaordered an inquiry into the quality of the food and issued a notice to the restaurant which had supplied it.

According to the district administration, the Aliganj restaurant had supplied snacks packets for more than 1,000 participants at a science exhibition. The CDO tasted the food following rumours of bad food being served, and on finding its quality "poor", ordered the organisers to throw the food.

Stale food seized from hotel

Officials of the Food Safety Department on Saturday seized stale food from ‘Arabian Nights’ restaurant near Kathrukadavu and ordered suspension of its operation till further order.

The raid followed a tip-off by the Ernakulam North Police, which had inspected the building earlier for illegal sale of liquor. Though no liquor bottles could be spotted, the police found the restaurant’s kitchen operating in unhygienic condition and hence alerted the Food Safety officials. Though the police had earlier approached the health wing of the city corporation, they did not turn up.

Your college food joint may have to face closure

Soon, the chat stall or the tiny shop selling brownies on your college campus may have to move out.

Taking note that canteens, messes or other food establishments located in various educational institutions have not been licensed under the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities and their affiliated colleges to get their act together and ensure implementation of the Act.

A circular issued on Friday by Jaspal S. Sandhu, Secretary of UGC, says that as per the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, no person is allowed to commence any food business unless he possesses a valid licence.

The circular also asks educational institutions to contact the FSSAI to organise training for those handling food in establishments located on the campuses with the intent of providing “safe and wholesome food” to students.

The principal of one of the top colleges in the city said that while two of the main canteens on the college campus were licensed, it would not be viable for the college to monitor small eateries on the campus. “But if it is a UGC circular, we will have to comply with it in the interest of students,” the principal said.

But students are a disappointed lot as they fear many of the small stalls that sell food at reasonable prices may have to face closure.

“The canteens on the campus are not able to cater to thousands of students during the lunch hour. So students depend on small eateries to grab a quick bite,” said Pooja R., a final year B.A. student in a women’s college in the city.

UGC asks varsities, affiliated colleges to ensure all eateries on campuses have licence

Seven of 14 milk samples tested by FSSAI found to be substandard

HYDERABAD: The quality of milk in the city has once again been called for question with seven out of 14 milk samples tested by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) turning out to be “of substandard quality”.

The tests were conducted earlier this month at the State Foods Laboratory (SFL) as a part of a routine check. The test was conducted on milk samples sold loose in the city.

“We are planning to collect samples for packaged milk as well,” said Vinod Dayal, deputy food controller at FSSAI. “We will file a case in judicial first class magistrate courts under the Food safety and Standards Act, against those selling milk of substandard quality,” he added.

Past cases

In 2013, milk sold in the city by dairy companies was tested and found to contain traces of E coli, salmonella and even urea. Milk samples of seven dairy companies were tested at SFL, the only government owned food testing laboratory in the state. Reports of the findings were then sent to the food safety officer of GHMC.

“At that time too we collected samples, there were some milk samples that were found to be of substandard quality,” said Dayal. There were traces of detergent in some of the samples, he added.

Earlier this year the supreme court had directed the Central government to make amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Indian Penal Code. The apex court heard a petition filed on milk safety.

In Hyderabad, cases were filed against the offenders but prosecution is yet to begin. Most of the GHMC officials related to the issue were either ignorant or unaware of what had happened since 2013. “These things got sidelined after the bifurcation,” was what an GHMC official said when asked why no action was taken.

The cases had been filed, it will take time, the official added.

“There were 30 samples that were tested , eight were reported to have violations. There were cases filed against these companies but prosecution order is pending,” said Balaji, an assistant food controller with GHMC. Those who were found to be unsafe were the ones against which cases were filed. We had sent the report to Human Rights Commission and to the state Lokayukta, he added.

Civil society unhappy “GHMC should have taken action against the diary companies and banned them instead,” said Achyuta Rao, honorary president for Balala Hakkula Sangham.