19th December, 2002
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution  


NATIONAL CONSUMER FORUM


RAJYA SABHA

According to the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, the responsibility for setting up of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions in the States and UTs and their effective functioning rests with the State Governments and UT Administrations. However, to strengthen the infrastructure for effective functioning of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal commissions in the States and UTs, Central Government has provided a one time financial assistance of Rs. 50 lakhs per State Commission during 1995-97. Similarly, the responsibility of setting up of the National Commission and its effective functioning rests with the Central Government. Necessary infrastructure including supporting staff and funds have been provided to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for its effective functioning.

As per the information made available by the National Commission, the number of cases filed in and disposed of by the National Commission and the State Commissions during the last three years is 1,80,604 and 1,40,141 respectively.

This information was given in Rajya Sabha today by Shri V. Sreenivasa Prasad, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in reply to a question of Smt. Prema Cariappa.