NCERT solutions for सोशल सायन्स अंडरस्टॅंडिंग इकॉनॉमिक्स डेवलपमेंट [इंग्रजी] इयत्ता १० chapter 5 - Consumer Rights [Latest edition]

What are the various ways by which people may be exploited in the market?

Think of one example from your experience where you thought that there was some ‘cheating’ in the market. Discuss in the classroom.

What do you think should be the role of government to protect consumers?

What could have been the steps taken by consumer groups?

There may be rules and regulations, but they are often not followed. Why? Discuss.

For the following (you can add to the list) products/services, discuss what safety rules should be observed by the producer?

1. LPG cylinder
2. cinema theatre
3. circus
4. medicines
5. edible oil
6. marriage pandal
7. a high-rise building

Find out any case of accident or negligence from people around you, where you think that the responsibility lay with the producer. Discuss.

When we buy commodities we find that the price charged is sometimes higher or lower than the Maximum Retail Price printed on the pack. Discuss the possible reasons. Should consumer groups do something about this?

Pick up a few packaged goods that you want to buy and examine the information given. In what ways are they useful? Is there some information that you think should be given on those packaged goods but is not? Discuss.

People make complaints about the lack of civic amenities such as bad roads or poor water and health facilities but no one listens. Now the RTI Act gives you the power to question. Do you agree? Discuss.

The following are some of the catchy advertisements of products that we purchase from the market. Which of the following offers would really benefit consumers? Discuss.

• 15 gm more in every 500 gm pack.
• Subscribe for a newspaper with a gift at the end of a year.
• Scratch and win gifts worth Rs 10 lakhs.
• A milk chocolate inside a 500 gram glucose box.
• Win a gold coin inside a pack.
• Buy shoes worth Rs 2000 and get one pair of shoes worth Rs 500 free.

Arrange the following in the correct order.

1. Arita files a case in the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
2. She engages a professional person.
3. She realises that the dealer has given her defective material.
4. She starts attending the commission proceedings.
5. She goes and complains to the dealer and the Branch office, to no effect.
6. She is asked to produce the bill and warranty before the commission.
7. She purchases a wall clock from a retail outlet.
8. Within a few months, the dealer was ordered by the commission to replace her old wall clock with a brand new one at no extra cost.

Look at the posters and cartoons in this chapter. Think of any particular commodity and the aspects that need to be looked at as a consumer. Design a poster for this.

Find out the nearest Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for your area.

What is the difference between Consumer Protection Council and Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission?

The Consumer Protection Act 1986 ensures the following as rights which every consumer in India should possess.

1. Right to choice.
2. Right to information.
3. Right to redressal.
4. Right to representation.
5. Right to safety.
6. Right to consumer education.

Categorise the following cases under different heads.

1. Lata got an electric shock from a newly purchased iron. She complained to the shopkeeper immediately.
2. John is dissatisfied with the services provided by MTNL/BSNL/TATA INDICOM for the past few months. He files a case in the District Level Consumer Commission.
3. Your friend has been sold a medicine that has crossed the expiry date and you are advising her to lodge a complaint.
4. Iqbal makes it a point to scan through all the particulars given on the pack of any item that he buys.
5. You are not satisfied with the services of the cable operator catering to your locality but you are unable to switch over to anybody else.
6. You realise that you have received a defective camera from a dealer. You are complaining to the head office persistently.

If the standardisation ensures the quality of a commodity, why are many goods available in the market without ISI or Agmark certification?

Find out the details of who provides Hallmark and ISO certification.

Why are rules and regulations required in the marketplace? Illustrate with a few examples.

What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India? Trace its evolution.

Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving two examples.

Mention a few factors which cause exploitation of consumers.

What is the rationale behind the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986?

Describe some of your duties as consumers if you visit a shopping complex in your locality.

Suppose you buy a bottle of honey and a biscuit packet. Which logo or mark you will have to look for and why?

What legal measures were taken by the government to empower the consumers in India?

By what means can the consumers express their solidarity?

Critically examine the progress of consumer movement in India.

Match the following.

Say true or false:

COPRA applies only to goods.

Say true or false.

India is one of the many countries in the world which has exclusive courts for consumer redressal.

Say true or false:

When a consumer feels that he has been exploited, he must file a case in the District Consumer Court.

Say true or false:

It is worthwhile to move to consumer courts only if the damages incurred are of high value.

Say true or false.

Hallmark is the certification maintained for the standardisation of jewellery.

Say true or false.

The consumer redressal process is very simple and quick.

Say true or false.

A consumer has the right to get compensation depending on the degree of the damage.

Your school organises a consumer awareness week. As the Secretary of the Consumer Awareness Forum, draft a poster covering all the consumer rights. This activity can be done with the help of your English teacher.

Mrs. Krishna bought a colour television (CTV) against six months warranty. The CTV stopped working after three months. When she complained to the dealer/shop where it was purchased, they sent an engineer to set it right. The CTV continues to give trouble and Mrs Krishna no longer gets any reply to the complaint she made to the dealer/shop. She decides to write to the Consumer Commission in her area. Write a letter on her behalf. You may discuss with your partner/group members before you write it.

Establish a consumer club in your school. Organise mock consumer awareness workshops like monitoring bookshops, canteen, and shops in your school area.

Prepare posters with catchy slogans like:

An alert consumer is a safe consumer

Buyers, Beware

Consumers be cautious

Be aware of your rights

As consumers, assert your right

Arise, awake and stop not till ______ (Complete it)

Interview 4 - 5 persons in your neighbourhood and collect varied experiences regarding how they have been victims of such exploitation and their responses.

Conduct a survey in your locality by supplying the following questionnaire to get an idea as to how alert they are as consumers.

Note

1. You are extremely aware as a consumer if your answers for Qns. 5, 12, 13, 15 and 16 are (C) and for the rest (A).
2. If your answers are (A) for Qns. 5, 12, 13, 15 and 16 and the rest (C), then you have to wake up as consumer.
3. If your answer is (B) for all the questions - you are somewhat aware.