- The consumer movement marks 15th March with World Consumer Rights
Day every year, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer
rights and needs. - Celebrating the day is a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers
are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social
injustices which undermine those rights. - World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by President John F Kennedy,
who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, in
which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. - He was the first world leader to do so. The consumer movement first marked
that date in 1983 and now uses the day every year to mobilise action on
important issues and campaigns. - However, India celebrates 24 th December as National Consumer
Day every year. On this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 had
received the assent of the President and came into effect. - The theme for 2018 was Fairer Digital Marketplaces. Consumers
International is calling for: 1. Access to fair and secure internet as half of the
world is still offline. 2. Action against scams and fraud. 3. Better general
consumer protection online. - The Theme for 2019 was “Trusted Smart Products” which highlighted what
the consumers needed from IoT products like smartphones and wearables. - The theme for 2020 was “The Sustainable Consumer” to spread awareness
about environmental breakdown and global climate changes. - The theme for 2021 is ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’, the campaign will focus
on the central role that consumer advocates, governments and businesses can
play in tackling the global plastic pollution crisis.
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