A Brief Overview: Top Consumer Organizations in India

The world is full of consumer goods, services and of course, consumers themselves. After all, none of it makes sense without consumers, right? For the same reason, consumer organizations help consumers to be well-informed about important aspects that we tend to ignore such as verifying the accuracy of the information given on product labels.

Top Consumer Organizations in India: What They Can Do For You

Consumer organizations inform consumers about policies, rights and duties through which they can promote healthy consumption of goods and services without violating consumer laws.

Also, they aim to protect the consumer’s rights and provide assistance to consumers in case they face losses or difficulties due to any of the following:

• hazardous products
• lenders or loan organizations
• excessive prices
• black marketing
• misleading advertising
• pollution or environmental non-compliance
• any other malpractices

Top Consumers Organizations in India: How They Can Guide You

Here are some top consumer organizations in India and their details for your reference:

Consumer Guidance Society of India

This organization has an interesting history. Firstly, it was established in 1966 by a small group of women. Secondly, the Consumer Protection Act, which came into effect in 1986, was first demanded by them. They are known to redress 70% of the complaints that are registered with them. Thirdly, they established proper product testing in India and launched a monthly magazine to promote consumers awareness.

In rural areas where consumer awareness is almost negligible, this organization conducts training sessions. In fact, CGSI is the national award winner for consumer protection in1991 and an active member of Maharashtra State Consumer Protection Council. If consumers want to file a case in consumer court, CGSI offers legal guidance and they have a success rate of 70%.

Their areas of expertise are medical negligence, non- payment of insurance,  inferior drugs, faulty household goods,  adulterated food and insurance,  real estate, telephone and electricity related complaints .

Based in Mumbai, you can contact them by email at cgsibom@mtnl.net.in

CORE (Consumer Online Resources and Empowerment)

This organization was formed in 2005 by suggestion of The Consumer Coordination Council. This is a government backed organization and it gives prompt response to consumer complaints as they are committed towards the protection of consumer rights.

What makes this organization unique is that it protects not only the interests of the consumers but that of brands as well. Consumers are given formal guidance about consumer awareness, rights, needs and problems.

The organization also draws the attention of corporate houses towards these issues that affect consumers. You can lodge a complaint with them at http://core.nic.in if any.

Consumer Association of India (CAI)

This Chennai- based organization has been active in filing consumer complaint applications for about six years now. Various applications are filed by the CAI at the District Consumer Disputes Redress Forum and State Consumer Disputes Redress Commission. So far, it has managed 7500 complaints with a reassuring settlement rate of 95%. Their main areas of expertise are medical issues, purchase of jewelry, insurance, child health, and drugs.  They can be contacted at editor1.cai@gmail.com and admin@cai-india.org.