3 product testing labs in state soon

The state minister for co-operation and consumer affairs, Narendra Nath Dey, told members of the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce today that the state will be investing close to Rs 4.5 crore in setting up three product testing laboratories one each in Siliguri, Kolkata and Chinsura.

The one at Kolkata will be setup at a cost of Rs 1.35 crore while the labs at Siliguri and Chinsura will be set up at investments of Rs 89 lakh each.

The minister also said that it was all set to commence a diploma course on consumer education in conjunction with the Netaji Open University which is likely to start from the next academic session.

The state government would set up a National Institute for Consumer Education for which land has been allotted. Construction at the site was expected to begin shortly.

"Consumers in West Bengal as well as other states are still being deprived in one way or the other despite consumer forums and special courts," he explained.

"There is a need for creating consumer awareness and the educating the general public on the different forums available for having their grievances addressed," he added.

"The major impediment to creating consumer awareness was the huge number of illiterate population in the country," the minister lamented.

Despite the time frame set by the consumer protection Act of 90 days and 150 days depending on the situation for completing a case, special courts setup for the purpose were taking more time.

This was partly due to the fact that lawyers appointed by the aggrieved party and the seller in order to delay cases were asking for more time resulting in inordinate delay in completing a single case.

"We have asked the non-judicial members to try and settle cases before 90 and 150 days," he added.