15th March is the day when the world celebrates consumer rights to spread awareness about the basic rights and needs of consumers. On this day consumer organizations and movements take the opportunity to generate awareness on consumers’ basic rights by holding various events, programs, and conferences across various countries. Sometimes new ideas protecting consumer rights are also introduced.
This celebration takes place on the 15th of March because this date marks the anniversary when President John F. Kennedy back in 1962 addressed the US Congress on the issue of consumer rights. President Kennedy was the first world leader who recognized the important role consumers play in the economy when in his declaration said that “Consumers by definition, include us all. They are the largest economic group, affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision. Yet they are the only important group whose views are often not heard.”
On this same occasion, President Kennedy declared four basic consumer rights: the right to safety, to choose, to information, and the right to be heard.
Ultimately, these four rights became eight as over the years the right to satisfaction of basic needs, the right to redress, the right to education, and the right to a healthy environment were added to the original four.
World Consumer Rights Day 2021:Theme
Each year there is a specific theme for celebrating World Consumer Rights Day. According to the Consumers International organization “the theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2021, 15 March 2021, is ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’. The campaign will raise awareness and engage consumers globally to adopt and promote more sustainable practices. Building on last year’s theme of ‘The Sustainable Consumer’, the campaign will also focus on the central role that consumer advocates, governments, and businesses can play in tackling the global plastic pollution crisis.
Some Famous Quotes Related To Customers
“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning” – Bill Gates
“Your customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” – Damon Richards
“Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need before they realize it themselves”– Steve Jobs
“Your customer’s perception is your reality” – Kate Zabriskie
“A brand is nothing but an expression of the customer’s loyalty and trust” – Phil Dusenberry.
“Customers don’t expect you to be perfect but they expect you to fix things when they go wrong” – Donald Porter
Importance of Consumer Rights Day in India
The importance of consumer rights can be seen in the very words of Mahatma Gandhi. According to him,
“Customers are the most important visitor on our premises, they are not dependent on us, we are dependent on them. They are not an interruption in our work. They are the purpose of it. They are not outsiders in our business. They are part of it; we are not doing them a favor by serving them. They are doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.” Mahatma Gandhi
This day serves as an annual occasion undermining the rights of consumers is equal to social injustice. In India, National Consumers Right Day 2020 observed on December 24 annually. Do you know what the Rights of Consumers in India are? The definition of a consumer right is the right to have information, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution has listed the following rights:
1. Right to Safety
2. Right to be Informed
3. Right to Choose
4. Right to be Heard
5. Right to seek Redressal.
6. Right to Consumer Education.
History of world consumer Rights Day
President John F Kennedy. On March 15, 1962, President John F Kennedy sent a special message to the US Congress formally addressing the issue of consumer rights. He was the first world leader to do so. This idea to commemorate the day has been taken from there.
On April 9, 1985, the United Nations approved the general guidelines for consumer protection. In the year 1983, World Consumer Rights Day was celebrated for the very first time. Since then, this day (World Consumer Rights Day) is celebrated annually on March 15.
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