National Consumer Day observed at Aho Kishan

GANGTOK, 21 Dec [IPR]: The National Consumer Day 2011 was observed on 20 December at Aho Kishan Junior High School playground in East Sikkim. The programme was attended by the Minister for Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, DB Thapa, as chief guest and MLA Namcheybong constituency, BB Rai, Gangtok Mayor KN Topgay and Zilla Adhakshya (East) Bimal Dawari as special guests.

The programme started with the welcome address by Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Jemima Pradhan, who also gave a brief introduction of the consumer rights and duties.
The Minister, in his address, urged the people to understand their rights and duties as consumers. He mentioned that the Government has launched various schemes like Mukhya Mantri Antyodaya Annadan Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Khadiya Suraksha Yojana for people living below the poverty line. He also informed that as directed by the Chief Minister during his village to village tour, the department has launched a programme under which families with six or more members are receiving 50 kg rice.
Resource person Mahesh Sharma, Assistant Controller, spoke on Consumer Protection Act and its activities in the State while CK Sharma, Deputy Controller, explained the legal methodology and Package Commodities Act and Rules while KK Kafley, Additional Secretary, gave an account of the public distribution system and various schemes undertaken by the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.
Resource persons from IT and CT Division, Health Care, Human Services and Family Welfare Department and State Legal Services Authority also addressed the meet.