On the Occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal inaugurated a number of initiatives taken by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), Government of India, at a function organized in Mumbai today.
Speaking on this year’s theme “Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers”, Goyal said that this day is about making consumers more aware about their duties and rights and that this year’s theme for World Consumer Rights Day is very apt. He opined that if Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used in the right spirit, then it may bring about good changes in various works and lives of people. AI is a sword that cuts both ways, he said. He opined that AI provides an opportunity that India should seize and urged all youngsters to expand their knowledge about AI.
This year’s theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of ethical and transparent use of AI in the realm of consumer affairs to revolutionize how goods and services are accessed, consumed, and evaluated.
The initiatives launched today will not only empower consumers but will secure their interests and safeguard their rights, stated Goyal.
The various initiatives launched on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day 2024 are as follows:
– Video Conferencing Facility in the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
– Launch Dissemination of Indian Standard Time through NTP
– A state-of-the-art Integrated Power Transmission Line Equipment Testing Facility established in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards at the National Testing Laboratory, Manda, Jaipur, Rajasthan
– Integrated Price Monitoring Dashboard
– Grant of the first certificate by India as an OIML certification agency
– Launch of CCPA website for seamless redressal of violation of consumers rights as class
Union Minister Goyal also launched two books on the occasion – Consumer Protection and Legal Metrology in Ancient India: Ancient Thoughts and Wisdom and The Consumer Journey Book 1 & 2 by Amar Chitra Katha prepared in collaboration with DoCA.
