Soccoro Awareness Drive on Consumer Rights

Socorro Free Legal Aid Cell of V.M.Salgaocar College of Law organized a talk on Consumer Rights Awareness as a part of their legal literacy programme on 23rd February 2017 at 5:00pm at the 20 point colony garden. 

The resource person was Mr. Roland Martins, GOACAN Convenor. Ms. Lona and our faculty in-charge Prof. Dr. Shabir Ali were also present. The gathering was addressed by Cell Member Mr. Nigel Lourenceo welcomed the audience and introduced the guests. Nigel also spoke about the objectives and functions of the legal aid cell.

The students members had conducted an extensive campaigning on the previous days, on 21st Feb and 22nd February and they had informed the residents to carry their domestic gas cards as requested by Mr. Roland Martins. 

Mr.Roland Martins started the session by explaining the rights of the consumers under the Consumer Protection Act as well as the reliefs available to every consumer. He also explained to the residents where to file a complaint when necessary. 

Proceeding with the talk Mr. Roland Martins demonstrated how to disconnect a cylinder as well as the procedure of connecting the cylinder in the correct manner. He also explained and showed how to light the burner with proper safety. Similarly he gave many safety tips. 

Thereafter Mr.Martins focused on the fuel conservation tips on transport and domestic sectors also in which he included small tips for LPG consumers like switching off the engines at red lights to reduce fuel bills, driving car at 45-55 KMPH which can save petrol up to 20%, use of pressure cooker to cook faster and to save fuel, having meal together with family as it can save LPG on reheating food and many more such tips. He requested all the participants to buy products having ISI marks. Leaflets on which 24 hours helpline numbers are mentioned as well as numbers to call during office hours for any complaints were distributed. 

The program ended with the vote of thanks proposed by the cell member. About 147 residents of 20 point Colony and Soccorro village Panchayat area attended the program.

Mapusa Free Legal Aid Cell embarks on a project on MRP - Overcharging Menace

The Mapusa Legal Aid Cell of Legal Aid Society, V.M. Salgaocar College of Law, Panjim Goa conducted a city wide survey with one motive, finding the true nature of the MRP overcharging menace. After conducting the survey on 23 January 2016, the members of Mapusa Legal Aid Cell found out that, there's a city wide blatant violation of Law. This isn't just restricted to Mapusa area but throughout Goa. The student Incharge, Abhishek Sawant had taken up the issue first. But as the survey showed it was state wide menace and not restricted to a particular city. In further research he cell members found that shop owners/hotels had right to charge extra such as cooling charges etc but they couldn't attach this cost directly to the goods, increasing the selling price than that of maximum retail price. MRP is determined actually by taking all these factors into consideration but still shop owners and hotels are charging extra, This ranges from 5-10 rupees extra per bottle. After the cell collectively under the guidance of Prof Shruti Kamat Dalal collected all these bills of places at random all over Mapusa, places which were charging more than MRP on sale of water bottles and soft drinks. Mr Abhishek Sawant(Student Incharge) collaborating with the college consumer clinic and filed a complaint before District Consumer forum, North Goa under guidance of H.O.D. Prof Shabir Ali. Mapusa Legal Aid Cell has only one intention, ie to stop this practice in future. They've asked for 10,000/- payment to PM disaster relief funds receipt from each of the establishment, as a tap on the wrist. 

Consumer Clinic - faculty and students

The Mapusa LAC members submitting the complaint copy to the VMSCL Consumer clinic. Prof. Naguesh Kolwalkar (Consumer Club Incharge), Prof. Dr. Shaber Ali (Consumer Clinic Director), Prof. Sandhya Ram (Consumer Clinic Associate Director) and Prof. Shruti Kamat Dalal (Faculty In – charge of Mapusa LAC).   

CHORAO FREE LEGAL AID CELL TAKES UP CONSUMER RIGHTS AWARENESS

Chorao Free Legal Aid Cell  of V.M.Salgaocar College of Law conducted a Consumer Rights awareness  programme on 20th March 2016 at primary school, Kerem, Chorao - Tiswadi Goa.

Adv. Vahida Elgar, the guest of the day, spoke on the topic of CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 1986 and the procedures that need to be followed while filing complaint. Mrs. Arti Bandodkar, President of Mahila Mandal of Kerem and Karabhat, Adv. Namita Kucolkar, Shridhar Pai, Adv. Aruni Naique, and our cell faculty incharge Asst.Prof. Ashwini Naik attended the programme.

In the interactive session that followed, the audience asked a lot of questions, all of which were clarified by the speaker.

Around 70 people from Chorao Village attended the program.

Consumer Rights and Lok Adalat - Awareness program @ Sanquelim Free Legal Aid Cell

The Sanquelim Free Legal Aid Cell of V.M.Salgaocar College of Law organised a legal literacy program on Lok Adalat and Consumer Rights, at Kudneshwar Devasthan Kudnem Hall on 16th March 2016. The Chief Guest was Adv. Shivaji Desai and  Prof. Sonal Sardesai, faculty in charge attended the program.Cell member Roshan Sawant welcomed the guests. The program began with traditional ceremony of lighting of lamp.Cell member Mr. Tejas who also compered the program,  spoke about  the legal aid cell, its functions and objectives.

Adv.Shivaji Desai spoke about how the Lok Adalat functions and also about the Consumer Rights.In his speech he told the various consumer rights available for general public and how they can file cases in court. He also mentioned various example happening around. He also informed about Lok Adalat functioning in Goa and how Lok Adalat help people to sort out the problem with mutual understanding and compromising. He also explains the people regarding the whole procedure of Lok Adalat and how it is beneficial to them.

Various questions were asked to the speaker after the speech and finally the vote of thanks was given by the student in-charge Miss.Vibhuti Kamat and the program concluded with distribution of the refreshment to the people present for function.

“Telecommunication & Cable Services: What You Ought To Know!” - A Calangute Free Legal Aid Cell Campaign

The Calangute Legal Aid Cell of the V M Salgaocar College of Law organised a legal awareness program titled “Telecommunication & Cable Services: What You Ought To Know!”, on  13th of February 2016 at the Calangute Panchayat Hall. Mr. Roland Martins, co-ordinator of GOACAN was the resource person for the program.

Mr. Martins spoke about the main rights that a consumer has, under the Consumer Protection Act, specifically with regard to telephone operators, mobile service providers, and TV content providers; be they local cable operators, or the large companies who provide digitalised content. His discourse on this subject was startlingly accessible to the audience, despite the fact the subject is technical in nature. His presentation was filled with practical examples of the simplest rights which consumers have, and how to exercise these rights. For instance, his explanation of the extent to which telephone operators such as BSNL have failed to provide services which they are contractually obligated to provide (they are even supposed to lay out the wiring to your telephone), and the quantum of the refunds which consumers are entitled to - but alas, never claim, were met by appreciation by the audience. He explained the most common methods by which consumers are duped by cold calls, and scams and how a responsible consumer ought to protect himself from such calls, and much more.  

In attendance at the program were residents - young and old - of Calangute and the surrounding areas. Professor Aamod Shirali of the V M Salgaocar College of Law, the Professor in charge of the Calangute Legal Aid Cell was also present. Pamphlets on Consumer Protection and details of whom to lodge complaints with were distributed to every audience member. The program ended with the distribution of refreshments to the audience, and a vote of thanks by a member of the Legal Aid Cell.

LPG – Rights & Responsibilities of Consumers @ Anjuna Free Legal Aid Cell

Anjuna Free Legal Aid Cell of V.M Salgoacar College of Law organized a legal literacy program on “LPG – Rights & Responsibilities of Consumers” in Paloti House, Assagao on 31^st of January 2016. Renowned consumer rights activists and coordinator of a reputed NGO, GOACAN  Mr. Roland Martins was the resource person.He is also a member of Goa State Consumer Protection Council and  the Consumer Conciliation Committee of the Department Of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Government of Goa. Prof. Aamod Shirali, the faculty in charge of the Cell, and Father Ozwald of Patoli House also attended the program.

Ms. Jennifer, student member welcomed the guests and explained about the functioning of the legal aid cells and the services students take up to ensure access to justice to all. Ms. Manjita Palyekar introduced the guests.

More than 100 people, mostly housewives had assembled for the programme and Mr. Martins explained to them the essence of Consumer Protection Act and the Rights of the Consumers. He said that there is lack of awareness in the society regarding the Act. Right to safety is the first right given under consumer protection Act, goods and services provided to us should be safe for consumption & encouraged the legal aid cell to demand safety. He spoke on the consumers’ right to information. The seller must provide all the required information about the product such as manufacturing date,expiry date,address,the price etc.

The session was quite engaging and Mr. Martins explained the mode of trace IMAI number of mobile,by using key *#06#. On the right to choice, he said that the consumer has the right to choose the goods and services of his or her liking, and that the producer or seller should not force the customer to buy a particular brand only. Other rights were right to be heard, right to seek redressal and right to consumer education. If the consumer has been exploited or has any complaints against the product or service than he has the right to be heard & be assured that his/her interest will receive due consideration. Pamphlets containing concise information on the topic were distributed.

The audience feedback shows that the program was very useful and informative. Mr.Sanyog Talkatkar proposed  vote of thanks.