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.