National Consumer Day celebrations /Provide Justice to Consumer is Priority: Shri RamVilas Paswan

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Inaugurates National Consumer Day celebrations

Provide Justice to Consumer is Priority: Shri RamVilas Paswan

New Consumer Protection Bill has Stringent Provisions against Misleading Advertisements and Unfair Trade Practices: Shri Paswan

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Introduces New Initiatives for Consumer Grievance Redressal & Education

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has said that to provide justice to consumer is priority of his ministry. Shri Paswan observed that mediation has ingrained in our culture, and in tune with that the Consumer Protection Bill, which is at an advanced stage, has a provision for mediation. Union Minister said that the new bill has stringent provisions against misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices, which will be tackled effectively with setting up of the Central Consumer Protection Authority. Shri Paswan said that celebrities should check facts about the product before doing endorsement. Shri Paswan stated it at the inauguration of the National Consumer Day celebrations in New Delhi today.

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution, celebrated the National Consumer Day 2016 with the theme “Alternative Consumer Dispute Resolution”. The event saw the introduction of  new initiatives of the Department on consumer grievance redressal and consumer education, leveraging new age technologies were  launched which included, i) a mobile app, and an easy to remember number 14404 to access the national consumer helpline, ii) Online Consumer Mediation Centre (OCMC) , at National Law School India University , Bengaluru, iii) A Mobile app ‘smart consumer”  which is a bar coder as well as platform for lodging consumer grievances against packaged commodities; iv) Online Consumer communities on the  digital platform “Local Circles” for presenting their views , grievances  and suggestions enabling the Department to know the pulse of the public that may help in policy making; v) Launch of a Microsite with the theme “Digitally Safe Consumer Campaign” with knowledge support from Google, to help Indian consumers stay safe on the internet. Various publications by Centre for Consumer Studies, IIPA on - Legal Metrology and Consumer, Electricity and Consumers, Sustainable Consumption and lifestyle and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)-Regulations & Consumers, were released. 

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan mentioned that enhanced capacity of the National Consumer Helpline will benefit lakhs of consumers. The Minister commented that this is the age of technology, and educating the consumer and redressing his grievances in the digital world is a challenge. Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given a message to the citizens to adopt less cash lifestyle which will help in fight against black money and corruption. This will add crores of Indians to the digital world for the first time. The Mobile App of the consumer Helpline, the Smart Consumer App for accessing product information, online communities will benefit the consumers in the digital world. The microsite for consumer safety in the digital world, made by the Department along with Google will help the consumers for being vigilant and not fall prey to cyber frauds. Online communities will provide a platform for airing their views, experiences and grievances.  

Shri Paswan welcomed the online consumer mediation initiative of the Department with the National Law School, Bengaluru and advised that before starting of the mediation it should be ensured that mutual consent of the consumer and the company are ensured and the proposed nominal fee should be charged on both the parties and not just the consumer.

Shri C.R Chaudhary, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said that intention of the Government is to bring forward, shortly, a broad-based Mediation system to promote mediation as a viable, effective and efficient alternative to court proceedings, thereby reducing legal costs and speeding up the resolution of disputes. Shri Chaudhary mentioned that the legislation, which is currently being drafted, will provide that a consumer commission may, following the commencement of proceedings, on its own initiative invite parties to consider mediation and suspend the proceedings to facilitate the mediation process.  The Minister of State mentioned about 5 regional helplines which are being planned as extension of NCH in different zones of the country.  Shri. C.R. Chaudhary requested all delegates present in the event especially the VCOs to support cashless system as part of PM’s demonitisation programme and help in creating awareness among consumers of its benefit.

Welcoming the delegates on the inaugural function Shri Hem Pande Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs said that the Department has been keeping abreast of the latest challenges to consumer protection and has been devising various strategies to protect consumers from exploitation.

Justice D.K. Jain, President, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), Justice Jasbir Singh, President, Chandigarh UT Consumer Commission, and Sh. B.C. Gupta, the Member, NCDRC graced the occasion and addressed the participants on the theme.

Modi promises more reforms, says note ban short-term pain

Patalganga (M'rashtra), Dec 24 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hinted at unleashing more radical reforms, saying his government will not shy away from taking difficult decisions that are in national interest and admitted the note ban caused "short-term pain".

Inaugurating a new educational and training campus of the Sebi-run National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) in this industrial township near Mumbai, Modi said "the government will unveil more long-term policies that are stable and sound" so as to sustain the higher economic growth rate.

"Our government will continue to follow sound and prudent economic policies and we will not take decisions for short-term political point scoring." 

Admitting that the demonetisation drive has caused some "short-term pains" to the public, Modi said this "will bring in benefits in the long-term".

Despite the lingering disagreements between the Centre and the states over the dual control of the GST mechanism, Modi expressed hope that the biggest tax reform the nation has seen till date will be a reality shortly.

Claiming he has transformed the economy since assuming office over 30 months ago, the PM said when he took over the economy was in dire straits with high current account and fiscal deficits, near-double digit inflation and low forex reserves.

In spite of all difficulties, he said his government has improved these key metrics massively since assuming office in May 2014 and today the country is a bright spot in otherwise a gloomy global environment.

Even as the whole world is fighting a prolonged slowdown, "India is being seen as a bright spot with growth projected to be highest amongst the large economies", he said.

Modi said advancing budget presentation will help improve productivity by ensuring adequate resources to all productive sectors of the economy.

Lauding Sebi for facilitating a large number of IPOs this year and helping the capital markets to grow, he said the financial markets are very important for a fast-growing economy.

He underlined the need for developing a robust corporate bond markets so that banks funds can be utilised for other less organised sectors.

Modi asked market watchdog Sebi and Finance Ministry to enable municipalities to tap markets. Stock markets should help in raising capital for productive purposes while the bond market could become a source of long-term infra finance.

The event was attended by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao, state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sebi Chairman U K Sinha and many other officials and senior bankers.

National Consumer Day celebrations to be inaugurated by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan

NEW DELHI : The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution is celebrating the National Consumer Day this year with the theme “Alternate Consumer Disputes Redressal” on 24th December, 2016 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

The programme will be inaugurated and presided over by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and will be attended by Shri C.R Chaudhary, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Members of Parliament, Ministers and Secretaries in charge of Consumer Affairs in the States, Officers in the Central Government, and representatives from Industry and the Voluntary Consumer Organisations.

High on the agenda of the event will be the discussion on the theme Alternative Dispute Resolution, which is already being practiced in resolving civil disputes, and the Consumer Protection Bill 2015 also has a chapter dedicated tomediation, one of the ADR mechanisms. New initiatives of the Department on consumer grievance redressal and consumer education, leveraging new age technologies will be launched.

The National Consumer Day is observed every year on December 24. On this day, the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 had received the assent of the President. The Day is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the national consumer movement and is an opportunity to promote the basic rights of all consumers.

GST Council makes headway on bills, stuck on taxpayer control

New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) The all-powerful GST Council today made a 'reasonable headway' on supporting legislations for the new indirect tax regime but its rollout from April 1 looked virtually impossible as it postponed discussion on the critical issue of administration and control of tax payers.

The panel, which met for the seventh time since the Constitutional Amendment to replace central and state taxes with a Goods and Service Tax was approved in mid-September, tweaked the periodicity of payment of compensation for loss of revenue to states for implementation of GST to bi-monthly instead of previously decided quarterly payment.

Also, the Council decided to create the kitty for the compensation 'from any other tax' besides the cess on luxury and sin goods it had previously approved, as states saw revenues being dented by slowdown in economic activity and resultant tax collections following demonetisation.

The GST Council will meet again on January 3-4 and take up the issue of which part of tax payers should be controlled by the Centre and who should be governed by the states after a single tax will replace levies like central excise, service tax and VAT.

The dual control is also part of the Integrated-GST legislation that Parliament needs to pass before the new regime is rolled out.

But for this stumbling block, mirror legislations of Central-GST and State-GST, that have to be approved by Parliament and state assemblies respectively, neared finality with most clauses agreed upon.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the law to provide for compensation to the states for loss of revenue was also approved by the GST Council at its two-day meeting which ended today but a final draft with legal language would be approved at the next meeting.

"I am trying my best," he said, when asked about the April 1 rollout schedule. "I am not going to bind myself with anything. Our effort is to do it as quickly as possible and I think we are making a reasonable headway."

Three consecutive meetings of the GST Council have not been able to take up the issue of dual control. Some states like West Bengal and Kerala want a minimum turnover criteria be fixed to decide who control which assessee, a proposal the Centre is not agreeable to because states lack expertise on levies like service tax.

"If you ask me what are the principle residuary items left, the main item of course is the IGST and dual empowerment issue. The second is the legally vetted language which will be placed in the next meeting on January 3-4," Jaitley said, adding that the Council will take up items in each tax bracket after that. .

Airtel, Aircel to appear before Parliament panel on call drops

New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has called telecom operators Airtel and Aircel to appear before it to brief on the issue of call drops on January 5.

A notice of the panel said meeting will be held on January 5, 2017 to "to hear the views of the representatives of Bharti Airtel Limited and Aircel Limited on the subject 'issues related to quality of services and reported call drops'".

The panel, chaired by BJP MP and BCCI President Anurag Thakur, had earlier met officials industry lobby Cellular Operators Association of India and Reliance Jio to discuss call drop issue.

COAI urged the committee to also hear out incumbent operators, including Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, and Vodafone, for a fairer assessment of the situation.

The members of the panel in November meeting, among various issues, sought to know about service quality challenges arising out of free calls being offered by the newcomer RJio, and how these issues are being sorted, as per sources.

As per telecom regulator Trai report for April-June quarter, maximum call drop was reported on Aircel network across most telecom circles in the country. Call drops were also noticed on the networks of RCom, Telenor, BSNL and Vodafone in April-June period.

Delhi LG resigns in surprise move

New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) In a sudden move, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today resigned amid a protracted bitter confrontation with the AAP government.

Without citing reasons, Jung's office said he has submitted his resignation to the Centre. 65-year-old Jung, a former IAS officer, had assumed charge of Lt Governor of Delhi on July 9, 2013.

"Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has submitted his resignation to the Government of India. He thanks the Prime Minister for all the help and cooperation he received during his tenure," the LG's office said in a statement.

The reason behind his surprise decision is not immediately known.

"Jung also thanked the people of Delhi for all their support and affection, especially during the one year of President's Rule in Delhi, when he got unstinted support from them and which in turn helped run the administration in Delhi smoothly and effortlessly," the statement said.

Jung also thanked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his association in the last two years.

"Jung would be returning back to his first love, which is, academics," said his office. 

Growmoney Voice

22/12/2016

NIFTY:

Spot Range :  8049 - 8105

Likely to open between  :  - 8063 - 8091

Buy above 8078 ; Tgts -  8095/8118/8140/8163  ; sl  - 8056

Sell below  8055 ; Tgts -  8036/8014/7991/7969  ; sl  - 8077

Break down -  8048 ;       Break up - 8106

CLICK : http://growmoney-skhosla.blogspot.in/ 

Kerry, Doval discuss regional security and counter-terrorism

Washington, Dec 21 (PTI) National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval has met US Secretary of State John Kerry here and discussed regional security, counter-terrorism and deepening of India-US strategic partnership.

"Secretary Kerry met today (December 20) with Indian National Security Advisor Doval to discuss regional security, counter-terrorism, and the deepening strategic partnership between the United States and India," State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner told PTI.

"The Secretary expressed confidence that the US-India partnership would continue to move forward in the new administration and thanked Doval for his leadership and hard work on our shared agenda," Toner said.

Doval, who arrived in the US on Monday, yesterday met President-elect Donald Trump's NSA-designate Gen (rtd) Michael Flynn and the two leaders are believed to have discussed a wide range of regional and global strategic issues while exploring ways to further Indo-US ties.

It is understood that Flynn spoke to Doval over phone a few days ago, during which he invited Doval to come to the US for a meeting.

EC to ask I-T authorities to look into finances of 200 parties

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) The Election Commission is set to write to the Income Tax authorities asking it to look into the finances of over 200 political parties it has 'delisted' over a period of time for not contesting elections.

The Commission has, over a period of time, identified various parties which have not contested polls since 2005 and has 'delisted' over 200 of them.

The poll panel believes that most of them exist on papers to help people convert their back money into white by accepting donations.

In the next few days, the Commission will send the list of the delisted parties to the income tax authorities seeking action against relevant laws if they are found to be involved in money laundering.

While the poll watchdog has the mandate to register a political party, it lacks power under electoral laws to deregister any party.

As its demand to get power to deregister a party is pending with the Law Ministry, the Commission used its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to delist parties for being dormant and not contesting elections for a long time.

There are over 1780 registered, but unrecognised political parties in the country. Besides, there are seven national parties -- BJP, Congress, BSP, TMC, CPI, CMI-M and NCP -- and 58 state parties.

Seeking to stem flow of black money in elections, the Commission has proposed a slew of electoral reforms but most are pending with the government.

RBI rolls back norms for deposit of old notes by KYC customers

Mumbai, Dec 21 (PTI) Under all-round attack, the Reserve Bank on Wednesday did a U-turn on customers depositing demonetised notes over Rs 5,000 till December 30 by making it clear that there will be no questions asked either in case of one-time or repeat deposits if the accounts are KYC-compliant.

Such customers will also not be questioned by bank officials on why they had failed to deposit the old notes earlier.

The RBI turnaround came as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's assurance on Monday night and yesterday that there will be no questions asked to customers who would make one-time deposit above Rs 5,000 failed to persuade bank officials who insisted that there should be fresh circular from RBI so that customers will not be harassed.

However, customers with non-KYC accounts will be subject to stiff conditions imposed by RBI on December 19 for deposit of junked notes.

The decision follows widespread criticism of the guidelines, with people saying the Prime Minister as well as the finance minister have asked people not to throng the banks as they have time till December 30 to deposit invalid notes in their accounts.

On review of the guidelines, RBI decided to modify the old currency deposit rules for fully-KYC compliant customers, an RBI notification said Wednesday.

The December 19 notification of RBI had said tenders of old currency in excess of Rs 5,000 into a bank account will be received for credit only once during the remaining period till December 30, 2016.

"The credit in such cases shall be afforded only after questioning tenderer, on record, in presence of at least two officials of the bank, as to why this could not be deposited earlier and receiving a satisfactory explanation. The explanation should be kept on record to facilitate an audit trail at a later stage," it had said.

Replying to queries on curbs on deposit of old currency notes by RBI, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday had said people should go and deposit the now-defunct notes at one go as repeat deposits raise doubt.

"Today, there are no exemptions... Now, there is no further scope of earning old currency. So, those who have got old currency must go and deposit at one go," he had said.

"Therefore, if somebody goes everyday and deposit old currency, it raises suspicion. How is he getting everyday? As long as exemptions existed, there was scope for getting old currency. But once the exemptions have been lifted, if you have old currency, go and deposit at one go.