Goanet next meets in Goa: January 7, 4 pm (meeting point: Kala Academy canteen). Goanet founder Herman Carneiro will be there. See you there! ------------------------------
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Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- It's just lip service to the consumer --------------------------------------------------- by Bindya Chari
On December 30 the government of Goa is celebrating yet another National Consumer Day. But is it just another bid to pay lip service to the cause of consumers rights in the State?
For some time now, Goa has been dilly-dallying with appointments of presidents to Consumer Dispute Redressal Forums of North and South Goa. About a year ago, the president of the Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum resigned and till today the post lay vacant.
Sources suggest the government has not found a suitable person to fill the post. This post was advertised in a local newspaper some six months ago, and interviews were held. However, for reasons best known to government, the interviewing process was scrapped.
Unquestionably, the working of the forum has suffered in the absence of a president. Its remaining two members have been trying to offer some relief to the consumer, but without avail.
Working has suffered greatly, so much so that no orders have been passed during the last three months at the South Goa Consumers Forum, sources inform.
Satistics updated uptil August 3, show that of the 83 cases registered at the forum, only four had been disposed off.In 2002 only 39 cases were resolved of the total 124 it enlisted. Sources at the South Goa Forum also argue that work is also suffering because of lack of staff.
The forum doesn't have a full-fledged steno, the appointee being a trainee. Working condition of the North Goa forum is nothing to be proud of either. This forum too is functioning without a president for a quite some time now.
It seems government is contend with the forum functioning sans a president, even if that meant giving a go by to consumer rights.
Sources in the North Goa Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, on the condition of anonymity, told the Herald that they have been greatly overburdened since the time president has resigned.
It's over six months that the president has resigned,that two members are handling the load of cases they are receiving. The work load is so much that sometimes they have to take files home, it is learnt. --------------------------------------- HERALD 30/12/03 page 1 ---------------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
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