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| Charging Rs 50 for booklet sponsored by JK Bank | | CAPD selling its integrity pretty cheap | | Akshay Azad
jammu, July 31: The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department which is entitled to ensure consumer rights, is itself violating the same by providing ration-cards that too without any mention of Maximum Retail Price (MRP), which is mandatory as per Consumer Protection Act.
The ambiguity on part of the CAPD could be gauged from the fact the ration-card booklet is sponsored by J&K Bank but department has been charging amount, five to six times higher than its market price. Sources informed Early Times that in total violation of Consumer Protection Act 1987, CAPD department has been providing ration-card booklets, which san any printed MRP or information about cost. "As per Consumer Protection Act-1987 it is the right of consumer to know about price of any item, but the department which is attributed to ensure protection of consumer rights is itself violating the same and in the process literally deceiving lakhs of consumers" they said. They further said that the ration-card booklet was sponsored by J&K Bank and should be given free of cost.
"The back page of booklet holds an advertisement of JK Bank while all 32 leaflets of booklet have an advertisement of JK Bank. If sources in JK Bank are to be believed all booklets are given free of cost to CAPD department but CAPD has charged huge amount, which is open loot of customers", an official of CAPD pleading anonymity said.
Moreover, official further said that the booklet has only 32 pages and in market a 32 page booklet's cost could vary between Rs. 5 to 10 but department has been charging, five to six times higher than market price.
He further said that it was blatant loot of consumers that in the last around three years, CAPD department has provided ration-card booklets to all customers and has charged Rs. 50 from general customers while Rs. 30-35 from BPL families.
"There are around 21.63 Lakh families across state out of which 4.16 lakh are BPL families. The CAPD department charged Rs. 50 from around 17.47 lakh customers and has collected around Rs. 8.73 Crores. While from 4.16 Lakh BPL families department has around Rs. 1.33 Crores", official said.
He further added that in the last three years ration card booklets were given twice and department has collected around Rs. 20 Crores. Rajesh Mahajan a resident of old city area said that due to no MRP mentioned on booklets, every ration dealer charged as per his/her whims. "Some ration dealers charge Rs. 70 and some Rs. 100 from consumers. The non-mentioning of MRP has benefited some ration dealers but looted customers", he said.
He further said that the ration-card booklets for year 2012-13 were being distributed till July, 2013. "Now only five months have been left and after five months once again the department will loot the customers", he said and appealed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in the matter and took action to stop the open loot of common masses. |
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