Shop fined Rs 50 lakh for charging Rs 75 extra on drink

Charging a customer double for an energy drink has attracted a strong censure from the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and a fine of Rs50 lakh for the vendor- Snack Bar, a unit of Saptagiri Restaurant. 

That October morning in 2009, a vendor at Chennai airport decided to make an extra Rs 75. Five years later, he may be poorer by Rs 50 lakh.

Charging a customer double for an energy drink has attracted a strong censure from the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and a fine of Rs50 lakh for the vendor- Snack Bar, a unit of Saptagiri Restaurant.

NCDRC lambasted Snack Bar for having collected Rs150 for a can of Red Bull from Delhi resident D K Chopra, while the retail price was Rs75. It also came down heavily on airport authorities who it said were "working in cahoots" with stall owners to obtain higher rates for licences. The commission directed the stall owner also to pay Rs10,000 to Chopra.

Chopra bought the drink at the airport in October 2009. Unhappy over being charged almost double, he issued a legal notice, but the stall-owner did not reply. Chopra then moved the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF) for a compensation of Rs2 lakh for "harassment and mental agony," and Rs11,000 as "travel and legal expenses." But the forum dismissed his complaint.

Chopra then filed a first appeal in the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC). This too was dismissed on the grounds that he had failed to prove the MRP of the product. He submitted two receipts for purchasing the drinks, which were not signed by the owner.

He approached the NCDRC. Counsel for Snack Bar said they were entitled to collect twice the MRP and submitted a letter from the deputy general manager, commercial at Chennai international airport. The letter mentioned the price of "imported juice/energy drink" as Rs140.

Questioning the logic of its classification as a juice, it said "by no stretch of imagination Red Bull can be called an imported juice energy drink." "Such a price list can be created any time and has exiguous value," said the commission. It also said the letter did not have endorsement from the Airports Authority of India. "Even if it is assumed that AAI had given permission, they are not empowered to do so. AAI cannot disturb MRP rates," the commission said. Stating a snack joint was "like a tea/ beedi stall," it said a person could not be forced to pay the prices which have been prescribed for restaurants.

"The stall owner has no right to misappropriate public money. It should go back to the public." said the commission, adding the vendor might have been charging above the MRP before 2009 and would have earned "crores of rupees." It directed the vendor to deposit the fine in the consumer welfare fund under the ministry of consumer affairs.

Coutesy: TOI

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Chiang Mai - CI International Conference on Consumer Protection in Digital Age

This was the most imp. session on the last day with UNCAD Secretariat head Mr. Hassan Qaqaya and Robin Simpson Head of CI Policy.  COO-Consumer Voice was chosen to represent consumer interests during the discussions. CI is keen to see e-commerce, financial transactions, remittances, online businesses besides others points to be included with major opposition from US.

This was regarding the debate on revision of the UNGCP resolution on proposed amendment of the UN consumer protection guidelines in 2015 by the General Assembly.

Mr. Manoj Parida, JS India, promised Indian government support in the negotiations and India's participation in the proposed UNGCP / UNCAD meetings.

Before this there was a 2 day CI Regional Meet consisting of 61 members from Asia Pacific & Middle East.

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आपके कन्फर्म टिकट पर कोई अऩ्य सदस्य भी कर सकता है रेलयात्रा

रेलवे ने यात्रियों की परेशानी दूर करने के लिए कुछ नियम बनाए हैं, लेकिन देखा गया है कि जानकारी न होने के कारण यात्री सुविधा का लाभ नहीं उठा पाते हैं। एक सुविधा यह है कि कन्फर्म रेल टिकट लेने वाला व्यक्ति यदि किसी कारणवश यात्रा नहीं कर पाए तो उसके संबंधी किसी वयस्क को संशोधित टिकट आवंटित किया जा सकता है।

इसी तरह निश्चित समय-सीमा के भीतर आवेदन करने पर बाराती, छात्र व सरकारी कर्मचारियों को भी संशोधित टिकट देने की व्यवस्था है। आधिकारिक सूत्रों के अनुसार, किसी रेलगाड़ी के कन्फर्म टिकट लेने वाला व्यक्ति किन्हीं कारणों से स्वयं यात्रा नहीं कर पाए तो उस टिकट पर उसके माता, पिता, भाई, बहन, बेटा, बेटी, पत्नी (पत्नी के नाम से टिकट हो तो पति) यात्रा कर सकते हैं।

सूत्रों ने बताया कि इसके लिए जरूरी यह है परिजन का नाम राशनकार्ड में या अन्य दस्तावेज में होना चाहिए। यह सुविधा लेने के लिए रेलगाड़ी के प्रस्थान के 24 घंटे पहले मुख्य आरक्षण निरीक्षक (सीआरएस) को आवेदन देना होगा। इसी प्रकार यदि कोई सरकारी कर्मचारी कन्फर्म टिकट लेने के बाद सफर नहीं कर पाए तो उसके बदले उसी टिकट पर दूसरा कर्मचारी यात्रा कर सकता है, बशर्ते रेलगाड़ी छूटने के 24 घंटे पहले सीआरएस को आवेदन दे दिया जाए। रेलवे ने छात्रों और बारातियों को भी सहूलियत दी है।

किसी मान्यता प्राप्त शैक्षिक संस्था का छात्र या किसी बाराती दल का सदस्य टिकट लेने के बाद यात्रा नहीं कर पाए तो उसके स्थान पर उसी संस्था या बाराती दल के दूसरे सदस्य को संशोधित टिकट दिया जा सकता है। यह सुविधा लेने के लिए 48 घंटे पूर्व संस्था प्रमुख या समारोह के मुखिया की ओर से आवेदन करना होगा। आधिकारिक सूत्रों ने बताया कि छात्र और बारातियों में से मात्र 10 प्रतिशत सदस्यों को ही यह सुविधा दी जा सकेगी।

Source: http://nationalparivartan.com/SubCategoryDetails.aspx?Id=571

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आज से कहां मिलेगी राहत, कहां आफत?

आज पहली अप्रैल है और इस तारीख पर आप कई मामलों में नई शुरुआत करने जा रहे हैं। इनमें कुछ आपको खुशी दे सकते हैं, कुछ दुखी कर सकते हैं। 

 

बैड न्यूज

 

बिजली पानी महंगे

राजधानी में बिजली बिल पर सब्सिडी खत्म हो जाएगी। शीला सरकार ने 400 यूनिट तक खपत पर सब्सिडी का ऐलान किया था, जिसे केजरीवाल की सरकार ने बढ़ा दिया था। हर परिवार को करीब 20 हजार लीटर पानी मुफ्त देने की योजना भी खत्म हो जाएगी। 

 

ट्रेन सफर महंगा

ट्रेनों में सुपरफास्ट चार्ज और रिजर्वेशन फीस में बढ़ोतरी हो जाएगी। तत्काल फीस भी सेकंड क्लास में बेसिक किराये का 10 पर्सेंट और अन्य एसी क्लास में 30 पर्सेंट हो जाएगी। टिकट रद्द कराने पर ज्यादा चार्ज लगेगा। 

 

गाड़ियां महंगी

कई कारों की कीमत 2 से 5 पर्सेंट बढ़ने के साथ गाड़ी के इंश्योरेंस का प्रीमियम बढ़ने जा रहा है। रेग्युलेटर इरडा ने थर्ड पार्टी दरों में 20 पर्सेंट तक बढ़ोतरी की इजाजत दे दी है। 

 

बैक चार्ज बढ़ाएंगे

कई बैंक सर्विस चार्ज बढ़ा रहे हैं। डुप्लिकेट पिन, डिमांड ड्राफ्ट, एसएमएस अलर्ट सेवा पर आपको अधिक पैसे चुकाने पड़ेंगे। यदि आपका ईसीएस डेबिट फेल हो, सेविंग्स अकाउंट में मिनिमम बैलेंस नहीं हो तो ज्यादा रकम देनी पड़ सकती है। 

 

वैष्णो देवी यात्रा

वैष्णो देवी के दर्शन के लिए हेलिकॉप्टर से जाने वाले श्रद्धालुओं को इस सेवा के लिए करीब 200 से 400 रुपये अधिक किराया चुकाना होगा। अभी एकतरफा टिकट 800 रुपये है, जबकि दोनों तरफ का टिकट 1800 रुपये प्रति व्यक्ति है। 

 

गुड न्यूज 

 

पेट्रोल सस्ता

देशभर में पेट्रोल कीमतों में सोमवार आधी रात से 75 पैसे प्रति लीटर की कमी की गई। दिल्ली में टैक्स मिलाकर 90 पैसे/लीटर की कमी हुई है। डीजल की कीमतों में कोई बदलाव नहीं किया गया। 

 

ज्यादा ब्याज

पोस्टऑफिस की फिक्स्ड डिपॉजिट स्कीमों पर ब्याज दर में 0.2 पर्सेंट तक की बढ़ोतरी लागू होगी। एक से दो साल तक के फिक्स्ड डिपॉजिट पर ब्याज दर 8.2 पर्सेंट की जगह 8.4 पर्सेंट होगा। 

 

वीजा मिलेगा

एच-1बी वीजा चाहने वालों के लिए अमेरिका आवेदन मंगाएगा। इस वीजा की भारतीय आईटी कंपनियों में बेहद डिमांड है। अक्टूबर से शुरू होने वाले इस बार के वित्त वर्ष के लिए 65 हजार वीजा की लिमिट तय की गई है। 

 

नया कंपनी कानून

नए कंपनी कानून के कुछ और प्रावधान नोटिफाई होंगे। अब ज्यादातर कंपनियों को कम से कम एक महिला और दो स्वतंत्र डायरेक्टर रखने होंगे। लिस्टेड कंपनियों और कम से कम 1000 शेयरहोल्डरों वाली कंपनियों के लिए ई-वोटिंग जरूरी होगी। 

 

निवेश आसान

म्युचुअल फंड के लिए नए नियम लागू हो जाएंगे जिनके तहत कंपनियों को क्षेत्रीय भाषाओं में प्रचार करना होगा और डिस्क्लोजर के नियम कड़े होंगे। 

 

सस्पेंस

 

महंगाई लगातार कम होने के बीच रिजर्व बैंक इस बात पर फैसला करेगा कि ब्याज दरों में कोई कमी की जाए या नहीं। एक तरफ इकॉनमी खस्ताहाल है और दूसरी तरफ कर्ज महंगा है। ऐसे में उद्योग जगत ब्याज दरों में कमी की मांग कर रहा है।

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Salads: An evergreen recipe to stay healthy

Combination of fresh greens, vegetables, fruits, fragrant herbs, beans, sprouts, tofu, cheese, rice, pasta, meats, fish or poultry, nuts and seeds — salads can be a perfect accompaniment or a complete meal in itself. Not only does a salad add visual excitement, it also adds flavour, crunch and lends character to the meal. 

They can be served chilled or warm with sweet, spicy or creamy dressings. The key to a good salad is at least three primary colours and simplicity in flavour.What makes a salad such an integral part of healthy eating is that you can eat as much of it without worrying about calories. Depending on the other ingredients and the kinds of dressing, content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates vary.

Dressings usually are a clever balance between tangy and sweet. Always choose cold pressed oils like extra-virgin olive or sesame and for a sharper taste mustard can be truly magical.

Creamy dressings can be made lighter with hung curd and low fat mayo, ketchup and mustard. The tang can be provided with natural acids like malt vinegar, rice vinegar or the robust balsamic vinegar, or simply orange juice and lime. Throw in some toasted seeds like sunflower, sesame, flax and nuts to add the crunch.

Low on calories and loaded with fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, salads can help beat the flab without your the need to portion control. They can be treated as free foods, with the exception of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other starches which need to be limited.

Salads provide certain vitamins and antioxidants, such as vitamins B and C and folic acid, which get destroyed when heated. They also provide special disease fighting plant pigments called phytochemicals, which have antioxidant properties. These chemicals protect us from chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cataract and ageing.

One of the major concerns of salads is their microbiological safety. Make sure that raw vegetables and fruits are thoroughly washed in salted cold water or potassium permanganate solution, if possible. Choose organic produce whenever possible.

 If you have a garden, grow as many fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs as you can, organically. Over-ripe or bruised vegetables and fruits can be a source of infection. Make sure that you do not leave cut fruits and vegetables for long durations. In general, avoid eating salads outside the house or in cheap eateries.

With endless varieties and novel combinations right from the good old Russian, coleslaw, tossed green and Caeser to the exotic ones like nicoise, Greek, salads are surely a recipe to good health.

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Consumer Voice Wishes you a Very Happy & SAFE HOLI, only use organic colours this HOLI !!

Holi is a spring festival also known as festival of colours, and sometimes festival of love. So don't ruin you and your loved ones on holi by using Chemical Colours. Only use organic colours while playing Holi.

Holi is also celebrated to renew old friendships and ties and forget rivalries and small fights. While renewing such friendships do not forget to renew your relation with us as before!!

For seeking more information on this please refer to our story on Holi colours in Consumer Voice Magazine. Log on to http://consumer-voice.org

Be Safe!!

Happy Holi to all from Consumer Voice Family!!!

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New India Assurance launches special health insurance scheme for families with girl children

New India Assurance's 'New India Asha Kiran' policy gives 50 per cent discount for girl children,

Government-run general insurer New India Assurance today launched a special health insurance scheme for families with girl children.

The scheme, 'New India Asha Kiran', has been launched on the eve of International Women's Day.

"We have launched this product, specially designed for families with only girl children, on the occasion of International Women's Day. This product is reasonably priced as discounts are offered for insuring girl children," Chairman and Managing Director of New India Assurance G Srinivasan told reporters here.

"We hope this product receives sound response from consumers," he added.

As per the company, this floater policy gives 50 per cent discount for the girl children. In case of accident to parents, the sum insured will be placed as fixed deposit in the name of the girl children.

"Though we don't have any concrete estimate of how many families are there with only girl children, we think around 20-30 per cent families may come under this segment," Srinivasan said.

The recently piloted product for domestic workers would soon be available for retail customers, he said.

The country's largest general insurer would come up with more innovative products in the coming months. "We will soon come up with such innovative products," Srinivasan said.

The state-run insurer posted a 36 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 701 crore in the third quarter ended December 31, 2013 from Rs 517 crore in the same period last year.

COURTESY: THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS (http://ow.ly/upnoT)

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Top Ten Security Tips for Your Android Device

As Android is the most widely used mobile operating system, it is more vulnerable to malware attack. Keeping this in your mind, do the needful for enhancing the security. If your device is found with some odd issues no doubt it’s been affected with malware. Be aware that all the vital information in your device can be traced and downloaded by a third person with cruel intentions. If you are not careful enough with the security, all your data can be shared all over the World Wide Web.

Below listed are the security tips for your Android device, as listed by TOI.

1. Download Anti-Malware Apps

Instead of focusing on the malware threats, think about what can be done to protect your Android device, apps and data. There are plenty of security apps available and make sure that you download and use them. Android anti-virus apps like Kaspersky, AVG, Avast and Norton are best among them. Recommended free anti-Virus apps include Lookout and TrustGo.

Do bear in mind that your job will be a lot easier, if you have an app that handles very kind of security issues at your disposal.

2. Avoid surfing and app downloading from unsecured sites

Recent report from security researchers show that the leading cause for malware attack is surfing through adult content websites. What the users can do is try not to get connected with such sites. Downloading apps from unofficial app stores is another source of malware infection on Android phone or tab. Try avoiding such malicious mobile apps installation by using official Google Play app store. There is a check box in the Setting menu of any standard Android device which enables and disables unofficial apps, so activate it.

 

3. Secure your network

Securing your network is the first and foremost thing that you should do to protect your Android device. Avoid using public Wi-Fi connection whenever you wish to access internet or do online banking. As long as you are sharing the network with the public, hackers can easily sniff out your packets and trace your password. Protect your information by using apps like Hideninja VPN so that it’s not easy to sabotage your information. If you feel that your device is being hacked, Wi-Fi protector can ward off these hackers. SecDroid can also help you out to enhance your network security. Always remember to turn off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when they are not in use.

4. Install a lock App

If your Android device contain any personal data that you wish no one should access, then it is sensible to use a lock app on it. Lots of apps are available on play store which offers extra protection to your personal data. Cerberus and Avast Mobile Security are best among them. These apps ask your password or PIN number which you need to be entered to access the protected information. If your Android device is stolen or lost, no one will have an access to your protected data.

5. Keep a backup of your Data

Having a backup of your data is very crucial in the era of Smartphones. Imagine a worst scenario where your Android is being hacked or stolen. In such scenarios all your personal data in your device will be lost if you don’t have appropriate backup in place. Even though you could retrieve your missed device, chances are that hackers who have managed to access your phone will render it useless. If you keep a back up, you can restore your device back to normal. You can use cloud to create a back up, or opt for traditional means such as desktops or flash drives for such purpose.

6. Activate Google’s Android Device Manager

If you lose your device, Android Device Manager can help you to track your device on Google Maps. It allows you to ring the device loudly for five minutes and even erase the entire data. To verify whether it’s enabled, you can go to the Setting Menu and tap on Security. You can also enable it through the Device Administrators setting under Security Settings.

 7. Create multiple user account

If you want your Android tablet to be shared with your spouse, siblings or anyone, having multiple user account will help you to protect your privacy. In Jell Bean Android tab, there is an option to create multiple user accounts. General account can be created for anyone who wants to use your device. This option is available under the Setting inUsers section.

8. Never save your passwords

Many users have a habit of saving passwords of online sites or services on their phone without thinking about its aftereffects. If you do so, your personal data is more prone to hacking. Hence avoid saving password on your device especially when it comes to banking or payment apps.

9. Check out Plan B

If you found that your Android device is lost, before planning to buy a new device check out ‘Plan B’. This will help you to get the back up of SMS, contacts, call Logs and location emails and also will track your device. Try to install Plan B from Google play store which can send the location of the device to your Gmail account.

10. Allow app permissions

Before installing an app from Google play, a pop up will come with requested permissions to show you what permission the app needs. Apps need certain permissions to do things, so go through it and ensure that they make sense; for example, an alarm app doesn’t require a permission to access your text messages. This is an important step you need to follow as all apps in the Play Store are not safe. Courtesy: SiliconIndia 

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No power subsidy from April 1 in Delhi

Prepare to pay your full-unsubsidized-electricity bill from April. Subsidy for consumption up to 400 units, announced by the Sheila Dikshit government and later increased by the Arvind Kejriwal government, will cease in the new financial year as there is no provision for it in the interim budget for 2014-15 approved by Parliament on Friday.

On December 31, 2013, Kejriwal had slashed electricity rates by 50% for consumption up to 400 units. The Congress government had also been subsidizing the first two slabs of 0-200 units and 201-400 units. The Delhi cabinet had approved the subsidy for the January-March quarter and it was to be reviewed as the government had ordered a CAG audit of power companies. 

The state government had also prepared an estimate of Rs 669 crore for power subsidy in the April-September period but, sources said, this did not figure in the 'vote on account' approved by Parliament. "If the subsidy estimate is not in the budget, it cannot be given. This is a call that will have to be taken by the next elected government," said a source. Courtesy: TNN

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Big relief on subsidised LPG cylinders

Now you can buy more than one cylinder per month

Post government decision to raise annual quota of subsidised cooking gas, the Cabinet allowed consumers to buy more than one subsidised cylinder in a month. The government had raised the annual cap on supply of cheaper LPG from nine to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each. Therefore it paved way for one cylinder in a month.

These developments lead to a public unrest as they generally require more than one cylinder in a month. The Oil Ministry cleared a proposal for consideration of the Cabinet suggesting that consumers should have the freedom to book a refill after 21 days, within the overall cap of 12 subsidised bottles in a year.

According to sources the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister agreed with the proposal. The sources also added that raising the cap from nine to 12 cylinders will impose an additional financial burden of about Rs 3,801 crore per annum.

The government had initially capped the supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to six per household annually in September 2012 which was further raised to nine in January 2013. Consumers who exhaust their quota have to buy LPG at the market price of Rs 1,258 per cylinder whereas; subsidised LPG costs Rs 414 per cylinder in Delhi.

In addition to the above mentioned developments, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) also decided to scrap the decision of making Aadhaar cards mandatory to get subsidy on domestic LPG cylinders. However, the decision to delink Aadhaar cards from the subsidy has not been implemented due to certain clarifications that are awaited from the Cabinet. Courtesy:PTI

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