Question

Explain the factors which gave birth to the consumer movement in India. -SST 10th

Answer 1

(i) Unfair trade practices : Some traders and shopkeepers indulge in unethical or unfair trade practices. They cheat the customers by giving them articles of substandard quality.Duplicate items are also available in the market but they look so genuine that even wise and clever customers fail to differentiate them. Similarly, underweighing tactics are very common among shopkeepers. They give less quantity but charge more than the actual. (ii) Adulteration and impurity : It is also a common practice where manufacturers of ghee, oil, butter etc. resort to adulteration. These activities increase their profit margin causing loss to the customers. Sometimes it proves very injurious to the health of the customers. (iii) Artificial scarcity : Shortage of essential items in the market is the result of hoarding. In order to get more profit certain unscrupulous traders resort to hoarding of these goods thereby creating artificial scarcity. After sometime they sell these products at higher prices. (iv) False or incomplete information : At times false information is passed on through the media and through other methods to attract consumers. This activity causes monetary loss as well as inconvenience to the consumers.