EARTH NEWS SERVICE Kathua, Dec 17 |15: Minister for CAPD and Tribal Affairs Ch. Zulfkar Ali today said that legislations and provision of penalties alone cannot guarantee consumer rights but sincere and continuous efforts of all the stakeholders are needed to eradicate the menace of unfair trade practices. Speaking at the one day awareness programme organized by Department of Legal Metrology, Kathua here at Government College for Women, the Minister said that extensive campaigns against unfair trade practices including adulteration are needed at all levels including surprise visits by enforcing agencies. The Minister said that government is strengthening the Consumer forum at the district level to make it easily accessible adding that government will leave no stone unturned to safeguard consumers right. He appealed people to voice their concern and report any infringement of their rights at the appropriate forum as per provisions of law. Earlier students drawn from different institutions threw light on the topic “Consumer Rights, Duties and role of Legal Metrology Department”. The students from Gujjar and Bakkerwal Hostel Kathua presented theme based skit on “Jago Grahak Jago”. Director CAPD G.S Chib, Joint Controller Legal Metrology Amar Singh, Deputy Controller Consumer Protection Tanvir Ahmed, Deputy Controller Enforcement Manoj Parbhakar, Principal Government Women College Dr Satinder Singh were present on the occasion. Elsewhere, the Minister inaugurated the newly installed Internet Protocol (IP) camera at main CAPD ration store in Kathua. He said facility has been installed to ensure proper and transparent delivery of services. Meanwhile, the Minister also took stock of the implementation of National Food Security Act under which process registration of consumers is in full swing across the state. The Minister asked Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Ramesh Kumar to ensure that every family is covered in the registration process. Later, the Minister also participated in a function organized by Gujjar and Bakkerwal Conference at town hall complex of the Kathua town. MLC Vikramditya Singh, MLA Hirangar Kuldeep Raj, President Gujjar & Bakkerwal Conference Haji Mohammed Yusuf and others were present on the occassion. The members of Gujjar & Bakkerwal community apprised the Minister about their demands and submitted a charter of demands for the consideration of the Government. The demands chiefly projected by the community members included rehabilitation, provision of additional mobile schools, availability of Urdu teachers, community hall, strengthening of bed strength of Gujjar & Bakkerwal hostel and other problem related to ration card and PRC. The demand of road connectivity, electricity and drinking water for Gujjar and Bakkerwal Bastis were also raised by different members.
