Scheme on Consumer Clubs (Central)

Introduction

The Department of Consumer Affairs in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, is the nodal Department in the Central Government to deal with the various matters related to the protection and welfare of the consumers in the country. In the past it has taken a number of measures like assisting the VCOs to organize workshops, seminars, training programmes, setting up of District Consumer Information Centre in each district, mass awareness programme under Jagriti Shivir Yojna etc. to promote a strong and broad based consumer protection movement in the country. It has now been decided to take another step in this direction to extend non-formal pro-active system of imparting consumer education to the school children by involving them in various consumer welfare and consumer protection activities by setting up Consumer Clubs on the pattern of Eco Clubs being set up under the scheme of the Ministry of Environment of Forests.

Objectives

The objectives of the scheme are to educate children about the rights of the consumers as provided in the Consumer Protection Act, 1986; to mobilize youngsters by instilling in them the spirit of protection of consumer rights; to impart knowledge about the role of the consumers in protection of their rights and to strengthen the consumer movement in the country.

Composition

(i) A Consumer Club shall be set up in a middle/high/higher secondary school which is affiliated to a Government recognized Board and shall consist of a minimum 50 members, particularly interested in the welfare and protection of consumers and willing to dedicate time and effort on a regular basis towards this end. The activities of the club will depend on the age profile of children.
(ii) There shall be only one Consumer Club in a school. There is no upper limit on the number of members that a club can have.
(iii) Each Consumer Club shall be in the charge of an active teacher in the concerned school.

Functions

The members of each Consumer Club are expected to discharge the following functions :
(a) To take part in all activities of the Consumer Club.
(b) To disseminate information gained through Consumer Clubs among their fellow students as well as among the people living in their respective locality.
(c) To organize and actively participate in consumer protection programmes being organized in their schools as well as in their locality, mobilizing their fellow students and general public.
(d) To observe National Consumer Day (24th December) and World Consumer Rights Day (15th March) etc.
Practical knowledge of consumer protection and consumer welfare will be imparted to the members of the Consumer Clubs through audio visual aids, posters, lectures, etc. Besides, demonstration and street plays can also be arranged. Debates, Declamation/essay writing/letter writing contests and quiz programmes will help them learn on their own.
Coordinating Agency
A group of not less than 20 and not more than 50 Consumer Clubs, in one or more geographically contiguous districts, will be serviced by a Coordinating Agency. A well established educational institution, a non governmental voluntary organization or a professional body shall be appointed as the Coordinating Agency, which shall be responsible :
(A) to convene meetings of each Consumer Club, at least once in a calendar month;
(B) to discuss activities conducted by the Consumer Club during the previous month and to prepare a schedule of activities for the forthcoming months;
(C) to organize demonstrations and street plays for the Consumer Clubs;

(D) to provide each Club with appropriate resource material like posters, banners, charts, pamphlets and other literature relating to consumer protection;
(E) to monitor the activities of each Consumer Club;
(F) to liaise with the school authorities to ensure that members of each Consumer Club take active interest in the programmes and activities of the Consumer Club;
(G) to organize inter-club and group activities and contests for clusters of neighbouring Consumer Clubs;
(H) to prepare every year a detailed report of the activities conducted by various Consumer Clubs serviced by it for submission to the Department of Consumer Affairs;
(I) to maintain the accounts of expenditure and to submit utilization certificate in the prescribed forms as well as the audited statement of accounts at the end of the year to the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Financial support
The Department of Consumer Affairs shall provide financial support @ Rs. 10,OOO/- per annum per Consumer Club to the Coordinating Agency from the Consumer Welfare Fund. A maximum of 20% of this amount will be retained by the Coordinating Agency for meeting its expenses relating to the Consumer Clubs being serviced by it. The balance amount will be passed on to each Consumer Club. The Coordinating Agency will regularly monitor the expenditure incurred by each Club.
Award for the best Consumer Club
The best 3 Consumer Clubs in each cluster for Consumer Clubs coordinated by one Agency shall be awarded cash prizes amounting to Rs.3,000/-, Rs.2,000/- and 1,000/- respectively for First, Second & third best Clubs. The assessment will be made on the basis of the reports submitted by the Coordinating Agency and verified through random checks. The best Consumer Clubs will be selected by a Committee constituted by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The overall best Consumer Club in the country shall also be awarded a cash prize of Rs.5,000/-. All these prizes shall be given annually.
Guidelines for submission of proposals
A. Proposal for setting up a cluster of Consumer Clubs in a geographical region/district shall be submitted by an NGO/VCO, Educational Institution or a professional body who fulfills the eligibility criteria as laid down in the Consumer Welfare Fund Rules and guidelines. In addition, it should have its own infrastructure and other resources for creating consumer awareness.
B. The proposal shall contain the following information, besides the application in the prescribed proforma and other documents as indicated in the Consumer Welfare Fund Rules and Guidelines :
i) Number of Consumer Clubs proposed to be set up (should be between 20-50 consumer clubs).
ii) Names and locations of schools where these Consumer Clubs are proposed to be set up along with the letter of concurrence form the Headmaster/Principal of the school.
iii) Number of members proposed to be enrolled in each Consumer Club, in the case of first application and details of existing membership in case this is in continuation of the previous proposal.
iv) Details of activities proposed to be undertaken by the Consumer Clubs.
v) Time frame within which the Consumer clubs will become operational
vi) Budget estimates for one year.
vii) Past experience of the Coordinating Agency in organizing activities relating to consumer awareness and consumer protection.

C. The proposals for setting up new Consumer Clubs, shall, as far as
possible, be submitted between January-March every year and
proposals for continuation of existing Clubs be submitted between
April-June, for better coordination of the activities with the academic year.
Need for Self-sustenance
The ultimate aim of all such efforts is to make them long lasting and they can be long lasting only if they become self-sustaining. To make them self-sustaining, Consumer Clubs may make efforts to raise funds on their own. They may consider adopting one or more of the following strategies :
i. Extend membership of the club to all students and prescribe nominal fee per student per month (say Re.I/- per student per month).
ii. Organize exhibition-cum-sale of posters/paintings/cards/ crafts made by students during some of the competition events of the Club.
iii. Organize Consumer Rights Festival on World Consumer Rights Day (15th March) or National Consumer Day (24th December). Small entry fee may be prescribed for visitors.
iv. Bring out Club Bulletin/News Letter, which may also include advertisements (for raising money)
Normally grants from Department of Consumer Affairs will not be available after two years. Therefore, clubs should take adequate measures for self-sustenance well in time. However, they will continue participating in Award Schemes, even after they stop receiving grant from Government. Therefore, they may keep the Department informed of their activities from time to time.

FORM-A-2

(Application for grant from Consumer Welfare Fund for setting up of Consumer Clubs )

Important: Please fill up this form, furnishing correct details sought for based on verifiable true state of affairs without causing suppression of any material information which, if resorted to, shall entail prosecution under the Act.

1. Name and full address of the applicant :
2. Date of Establishment :
3.(A) Whether Registered under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860 (21) of 1860 or any other :
Relevant Act
(B) If yes, number and year of registration :

4. Whether affiliated to a Government Recognised
Board (applicable to Educational Institutions) :

5. Names and addresses of Managing Committee :
Members and occupation of office bearers

6. Name and designation of the official(s) :
authorized to receive the grant

7. Number of Consumer clubs to be set up (with
details of schools affiliated to a Govt. recognized :
Board where clubs are to be established)

8. Amount of grant required :

9. Details of activities to be undertaken by each
Consumer Club along with time schedule for :
completion of activities

10. Details of previous grant, if any taken from :
Department of Consumer Affairs

11. Copies of the following documents
to be attached
(i) Constitution of the Organization and :
and Articles of Association
(ii) Annual Report and Audited Statement of :
Accounts for the last 3 years
(iii)Attested copy of Registration Certificate :
(iv)Copy of letter of affiliation to a Govt.
recognized Board (applicable to educational :
institutions)
(v) Affidavit in the prescribed proforma :

DECLARATION

(To be signed by the applicant or its authorized agent)

The particulars heretofore given are true and correct. Nothing material has been suppressed. It is certified that I/we have read the guidelines, terms and conditions governing the scheme and undertake to abide by them on behalf of our organization/institution. The financial assistance, if provided, shall be put to the declared use, for promotion and protection of rights of consumers or for standard marks. (Strike out whichever is inapplicable).

                                                                                               APPLICANT
To,
The Member Secretary (Committee), Consumer Welfare Fund, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.