The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) recently held a significant Chintan Shivir with the aim of reviewing its work and devising an action plan to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious "Vision 2047." The event took place amidst enthusiastic participation from officials and stakeholders, focused on fostering an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and promoting consumer welfare.
During the Chintan Shivir, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles, and Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, spearheaded the launch of two pivotal campaigns - the 'Bharat Dal Sale Campaign' and the 'Channa Promotion Campaign.' These campaigns not only highlight the health benefits of consuming Channa but also aim to support the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, encouraging self-reliance and domestic production.
Piyush Goyal has initiated the sale of subsidised Chana Dal, branded as 'Bharat Dal.' This nutritious dal is being offered at Rs 60 per kg for one kg packs and Rs 55 per kg for 30 kg packs. The retail outlets of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in Delhi-NCR are responsible for selling the Chana Dal. The introduction of 'Bharat Dal' marks a significant move by the Central Government to provide affordable pulses to consumers. This is achieved by converting the government's chana stock into chana dal.
NAFED handles the milling and packaging of the Chana Dal, distributing it through its retail outlets in Delhi-NCR and also through NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar, and Safal outlets. Additionally, state governments have access to this chana dal for their welfare schemes, police, jails, and distribution through their Consumer Cooperative outlets.
One of the key accomplishments highlighted at the event was the Department's intervention in stabilizing tomato prices. By procuring tomatoes from producing states and supplying them to high-price markets at discounted rates, the Department effectively contributed to price stabilization and ensured fair prices for consumers.
Acknowledging the importance of addressing consumer grievances, Goyal praised the efforts of the National Consumer Helpline, which operates 24/7 and provides support in 17 languages across the country. He emphasized the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence to enhance consumer grievance redressal processes, promoting efficiency and transparency.
Furthermore, Goyal lauded the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for its commendable work in hallmarking gold and ensuring standard promotion for consumer welfare. Union Minister expressed his appreciation for the dedicated officials who have served in the Department for over a decade and warmly welcomed new officials, encouraging them to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. He also highlighted that DoCA is a unique department that directly interacts with India's vast population of 140 crore citizens, underscoring the importance of prioritizing consumer well-being.
Goyal emphasized the need for a collaborative approach, urging officials to embrace forward-thinking and progressive ideas to enhance the Department's performance. He proposed organizing regular Chintan Shivirs to foster innovation and problem-solving.
The event began with a welcome address by Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, DoCA, who motivated attendees to focus on innovation and continuous learning. The program also included a session on "Yoga at Workplace" led by Arunima Sinha, Senior Faculty at the Art of Living. Sinha highlighted the significance of yoga in maintaining a healthy work environment and taught simple desk yoga exercises to promote calmness and composure during office hours.
The Chintan Shivir featured four interactive sessions, each focusing on crucial aspects of consumer welfare. These sessions covered Consumer Protection and the Speedy Disposal of Consumer Complaints, Quality Assurance for Consumers, Testing in Emerging Fields and New Technologies, and further discussed ways to ensure Quality Assurance for Consumers. The interactive format allowed staff members to actively participate, share their insights, suggest improvements, and seek clarifications.
