Affordable Healthy Lifestyle Choices Essential: Pralhad Joshi
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Synopsis
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, advocates for affordable and accessible healthy lifestyle choices for consumers, emphasizing sustainability and rights preservation. He highlights government initiatives and the importance of consumer awareness in promoting eco-friendly practices.
Key Takeaways
- Need for Affordable Sustainable Choices
- Government's Role in Consumer Protection
- Importance of Eco-Labeling
- Consumer Awareness and Education
- Right to Repair Initiatives
New Delhi, March 15 (NationPress) Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi emphasized on Saturday the importance of ensuring that sustainable and healthy lifestyle choices are made available, accessible, and affordable for all consumers, while maintaining the essential rights and needs of the population.
He further highlighted that adopting a sustainable lifestyle is crucial for tackling the intertwined challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. This approach offers an opportunity for ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwaas and Sabka Prayas’, providing solutions that benefit both individuals and the planet.
During the event marking World Consumer Rights Day 2025, the minister pointed out that the government is taking significant steps in promoting sustainability through responsible consumer policies. He quoted Prime Minister Narender Modi, who stated, “The Government of India is not only focusing on consumer protection but also consumers' prosperity.”
The Centre's Department of Consumer Affairs conducted a Webinar themed ‘A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles’ in recognition of World Consumer Rights Day. This webinar aims to enhance awareness and encourage discussions on integrating sustainability into daily consumer choices without sacrificing economic and social equity.
The minister remarked that the government is strengthening consumer empowerment through initiatives like eco-labelling, safeguarding against unfair trade practices in the e-commerce sector, enhancing regulations against greenwashing, and amplifying the power of consumer grievance platforms.
Joshi praised the initiatives undertaken by the Department of Consumer Affairs and CCPA for introducing guidelines to prevent misleading advertisements, dark patterns, and greenwashing, as well as actions in the coaching sector. He also applauded the enactment of the Consumer Protection E-commerce Rules, 2020, which actively protect consumers in the online marketplace.
The minister commended the E-Daakhil portal and the subsequent e-Jagriti initiative as vital advancements in consumer protection. He noted the efforts of BIS in recognizing quality control orders, the hallmarking of gold jewelry, and recalling substandard products to guarantee quality for consumers. He acknowledged BIS for issuing 180 QCOs across 769 products and its successful implementation of eco-mark schemes to promote environmentally friendly products and sustainable packaging.
He stressed the necessity of consumer awareness while recognizing the ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ awareness program and the Jagriti mascot. “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle should be integral to our lifestyle for sustainable consumer practices,” he asserted, underscoring the need for consumers to recognize their collective responsibilities towards society, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s advocacy for a zero-carbon lifestyle and choosing the most sustainable options in daily decisions.
He also referenced the Prime Minister's initiative, Mission LiFE, which aims to transition from a ‘use-and-dispose’ economy, characterized by wasteful consumption, to a ‘circular economy’ founded on mindful and intentional usage.
Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, noted in her welcome address that sustainability should be accessible and affordable for all social classes, advocating for a just transition to sustainable lifestyles and urging high-end manufacturers to produce sustainable goods.
She also mentioned that the department has begun discussions on the Right to Repair, which focuses on democratizing information and services related to repairs, as well as empowering consumers with knowledge for minor repairs. This global movement is gaining traction in advocating for consumer rights.
The Secretary revealed that the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) 2.0 has grown rapidly as a convenient, cost-free center for resolving consumer grievances, with plans for NCH 3.0 to reduce resolution time from 45 to 7 days. To ensure product quality, the Bureau of Indian Standards and Legal Metrology regularly conduct market surveys to enhance the availability of high-quality products.
