Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Govt. of Goa

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GOA STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL HELD ON 21st FEBRUARY, 2003, AT 11.00 A.M.

The second meeting of the reconstituted State Consumer Protection Council was held in the Conference Hall of the Secretariat on 21st February, 2003 at 11.00 A.M. under the Chairmanship of Shri Manohar T. Azgaokar, Hon'ble :Minister for Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs.

The Hon'ble Minister Shri Manohar T. Azgaokar, Chairman of Goa State Consumer Protection Council in his Presidential Speech covered many aspects of consumer awareness activities.
However at the beginning the Chairman said that the Government is having knowledge that there was a delay in calling this meeting. He said. that the delay caused due to inevitable circumstances and assured that the next meeting will be called within the time limit.

Analysing the duties of the Council the Chairman said that mere meetings are not sufficient but all the members individually and unitedly should strive for promoting and protecting the rights of consumers.

The Chairman also stressed that the V.C.O.s and Members of this Council should organize certain programs for promoting the consumer awareness, and also actively participate in the functions organized by State for Consumer Awareness.

The Chairman pointed out that in the meetings consumer related topics itself should be discussed and the discussions should be in a healthy environment and should be constructive.
The Chairman also expressed his desire that the Council members, V.C.O.s and other Consumer Activists should do constructive work in the field of consumer awareness and protection and should avail benefits under the Consumer Welfare Fund and Swami Vivekanand National Awards.
The Chairman at last suggested that the Members should take initiative to take action against the persons going for unfair trade practices and cheating consumers, they should themselves file complaint against such persons in Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies.

Agenda No.1
Sub:- Confirmation of the minutes of last meeting held on 30.1.2001.
The Director of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Shri N.B. Narvekar, addressing the Members stated that minutes of the last meeting held on 30.1.2001 were sent to all
the Members and there was no objection suggestion from Members, thus the same was
confirmed to be approved.

Agenda No.II
Sub: - Action taken on the last minutes of the meeting

(1) "Citizen Charter" The Members brought to the notice that all the Departments are not having their Citizens Charter prepared and in some cases departments have sent the copy of the Citizens Charter to the Consumer Affairs Department and are not having extra copies for distributing to the general public. Thus it was unanimously resolved that all Government Departments be informed about the advantages of Citizens Charter and be asked to print their Citizens Charter and distribute by keeping at centrally selected places by the competent department. The Members suggested that the Citizens Charter of all the Departments may be made available in Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, local Mamlatdar Offices or Village Panchayats.

(2). Infrastructure & staff to Consumer Forums:
The Members were of the view that the proper infrastructure and adequate staff is not, provided to the Consumer Fora. The Member pointed out that there has been delay in proceedings of the matter before the Forums mainly on account of lack of experienced
stenos.
At this point it was made clear that in the State Commission a Senior Stenographer has already been appointed and with regards to appointment of stenos in the District Fora, it was informed that the matter of appointment of qualified and experienced stenos in Fora is under the consideration of the Government.

(3) Appointment of 13 officials as Members:
When the Council was informed that 13 officials are appointed as Members of this Council, the Members said that inspite of the fact the 13 officials are included as Members, today many of this members are not attending this meeting. It was resolved that all the departments should be intimated that this Council Meeting should be taken seriously and at every meeting the departments should be represented by an official Member with full information about the issues or by the Public Grievance Officer of the Department in his absence.

(4). Payment of water bills:
When the reply given by the P. W. D. official to the letter of Director Civil Supplies on
the above issue was read out, the Members expressed dissatisfaction. However, as no
official of the P. W.D. Office was present it was decided that at the next meeting the P.
W.D. official Member should be present to answer on the queries particularly with this
issue along with other issues namely, overcharging, non functioning of the meter and lack
of proper service.

However it was suggested by some members that a system like Bijli Adalat organised by Electricity department should be followed by other Government department providing direct Consumer Services.

(5) Collecting Citizens Charter of all Departments.
Here the members suggested that including the four enlisted department there are other departments that are unaware about Citizens Charter. It was decided that such department to be communicated by the Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and the significance of Citizens Charter and the need to publish it be conveyed to them with a request to publish the same at the earliest.
(6) World Consumer Rights Day. 2001 Celebrations:
The Council was informed that according to the decision of the Council in the last meeting "World Consumers Rights Day" was celebrated on 15 3.2001 at Kala Academy. Here the Members were requested to attend such functions without fail.
7. Addressees & Telephone Numbers of Members:
The Council was informed that names, addresses and telephone numbers of the Council Members are sent to all Members as decided in the last Council Meeting.

Agenda No. III
Sub:- Constitution of 3 Member Conciliation Committee.
The Council unanimously welcomed and approved the constitution of 3 Members Conciliation Committee comprising of an official from the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, and two Council Members out of which one shall be a lady member. The Committee was constituted. The Asst. Director of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs who would be the official of Department of Civil Supplies, Mr. Roland Martins Council Member and Mrs. Amita Nayak Salatry a lady Council Member decided to comprise the Committee. It was however decided that this Committee would work not only prior to the actual procedure of the Grievance Redressal Agencies but would also try to reach an amicable solution between the parties who are already contesting the matter in the Forums and Commission.

Agenda No. IV
Sub: - Approval of Logo for Consumer Activities:
The Council Members were provided with three to four types of "LOGOs" at this stage it was decided that the Council Members may be asked to suggest any logo that would be published as the official logo for the Consumer Affairs activities in the State of Goa. The logo should also depict the objective of the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs of Government of Goa. It was decided that at the next meeting a logo be approved which would be one out of those suggested by Members.

Agenda No. V
Sub:- Appointment of New Chairman for State Commission:
Proposed by Adv. G. U. Bhobe.
Adv. G.U. Bhobe mentioned here that as the present President of the State Commission is appointed as part time basis and that as he hears the matters for one week in a month the matters are delayed. Thus it was resolved that a recommendation be made to the Government of Goa to appoint a full time bench for State Commission and the District
Forum.

Agenda No. VI
Sub: - Gist of Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act 2002:
Proposed by Candolim Residents and Consumer Forum: -
The Director of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs at this stage highlighted the amended provision of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act 2002 and explained the significant provisions brought up by this Amendment.

Agenda No. VII:
Sub: - Closure of Calangute Petrol Pump:
Proposed by Calangute Resident & Consumer Forum.
It was resolved that the Collector (North) would summon a meeting wherein Director of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, State Level Coordinator and Indian Oil Corporation personnel would meet and accordingly a decision be taken on the issue.

Agenda No. VIII.
Sub:- Appointment of alternate Chairman for the Council
Proposed by Shri John Eric Gomes:
It was informed to the Council that this proposal cannot be accepted, as there is no provision whatsoever to that extent in Consumer Protection Act 1986 and that the Minister for Consumer Affairs itself will remain as the Chairman of the State Council. It was also stated that the provision for an alternate Chairman if at all, could be made only by amending the Consumer Protection Act 1986, by the Parliament, as it is the, prerogative of the Parliament.

Agenda No. IX
Sub:- Regarding Cable Networking
(Proposal by John Eric Gomes):
To have proper services from the cable operators and to have a check on their activities it, was resolved that a meeting be called by the Director of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in which the Entertainment Tax Officer/Sales Tax Officer, officials from Doordarshan Kendra and the representatives of cable operators union should be called for and the solution to the problem could be sorted out. It was also proposed that the legal department may be also consulted in the matter.

Agenda No. X
Sub:-Anv other subiect with the permission of the Chairman.
(i) Sub-Committees:- .
Mr. Roland Martins proposed that as the Food & Drugs Authority and the Legal
Metrology Department is falling short of its staff at local level Sub-Committees comprising of the Council Members may be constituted which would be entrusted with
the basic job of informing these Departments about any irregularities or malpractices going against the consumers. At this stage it was decided that two sub-committees one in North Goa and the other in South Goa shall be constituted.
'The Members were asked to give their names voluntarily for this Sub- Committees. The names are as under:-

North	South
1) Prof. G.N. Mishra	1) Shri Agnelo Almeida
2) Shri John Eric Gomes	2) Shri Alberto Braganza.
3) Shri Agnelo Barreto
4) Smt. Amita Nayak Salatry

However as a few Members were absent, it was decided that the Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs will write a letter to all Council Members asking for suggesting their names voluntarily to work under the aforesaid Committee.

ii) Letters/complain to Department of Consumer affairs:
Mr. Roland Martin suggested that as the name of the Department is changed to Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs a complaint by any consumer aggrieved of any default in any goods purchased and for deficiency in services hired could be made to the Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs which in turn would forward/refer the letter to the concern department about which the grievance is faced by the consumer.

(iii) The Council was informed that as per every year this year also the Department is organizing the World Consumer Rights Day preferably at such a place where the maximum consumers will attend the function.

As there was no other issue to be discussed the meeting ended with thanks to the chair.