In India, the Consumer Movement originated as a ‘social force' for protecting and promoting consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices. The consumer movement was organized in the 1960s because of the continuous emergence of the rampant food shortage, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of food and edible oil. Till 1970's the consumer movement was largely engaged in the writing articles and holding exhibition. They formed the consumer group into look after the malpractices that is taking place in the ration shops and overcrowding in road transport. This led to the upsurge in the number of consumer groups in India.
Achievements of the consumer movement in India are:
• Reduction in malpractices against the consumers
The agenda of the consumer movements was to reduce the malpractices such as hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of food and edible oil. After the 1970s when the movement has emerged as mass protest there was a reduction in these malpractices in a huge amount.
• MRP is followed strictly
One of the exploitation against the consumer was charging higher than the maximum retail price. Maximum Retail Price (MRP) is the maximum price that can be charged by the retailer or wholesaler who sells the commodities. No consumer is supposed to pay them more than the price printed in the pack of the product. This was reduced to a great extent after the consumer movement that happened in India.
• Awareness of consumer rights
The most successful of the consumer movement was the creation of awareness among the consumer about consumer rights. When the consumers started to get awareness about consumer rights automatically the malpractices reduced because of questioning against the exploitation.
• Quality of commodities increased
After the consumer movement only the Consumer Protection Act was established. And also the influence of the consumer movement has created certain standards for the commodities that are to be followed. International standards are being started s the entire products to ensure the quality of the product. The standards must be well verified and tested by experts.
• Establishment of the consumer organization
The establishment of these organizations has helped the consumers to safeguard form the exploitation that is taking place against the consumers.
