Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal urges consumers to be vocal for local and to prefer indigenous products and services as appealed by the Prime Minister
Shri Goyal emphasizedon the need for greater commitment towards quality and standards and Atma Nirbhar Bharat
Start-ups need to be encouraged so that people in India get an opportunity to show case their talent and boost the economy: Shri Piyush Goyal
Posted On: 24 DEC 2020 8:17PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution virtually celebrated the National Consumer Day 2020 with the theme “New Features of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019” in association with the Centre for Consumer Studies, Indian Institute of Public Administration in New Delhi today.Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Smt.Leena Nandan, Senior officers of the Ministry and Presidents and Members of Consumer Commissions, a host of other stakeholders from the States/UTs virtually attended this programme.
In his inaugural address Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyalstated that the government is committed to protection of rights of consumers. He appealed to all the consumers to be vocal for local to prefer indigenous products and services as appealed by our Prime Minister. The Minister emphasized the need for greater commitment towards quality and standards and Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
The Minister said that the inauguration of Second phase of office cum laboratory building at National Test House at Mumbai is a step-in direction as it provides for development of testing facilities of air conditioner, refrigerators, toys (which would ensure safety of our future generation) and batteries used in e-vehicles. Emphasizing the need for ‘vocal for local’, the Minister observed that local products should be encouraged which can be done by the consumers only. Start-ups need to be encouraged so that people in India get an opportunity to show case their talent and boost the economy.
The Minister observed that next year, India should be celebrating the year of quality instandard and productivity. This, he observed would be in the interest of consumers and business as it would stand in good stead against international competitors. This would ensure that products and services of India gain acceptability in international & domestic market. The Minister concluded the speech by saying ‘JagoaurJageraho’ meaning consumers should be aware of their rights and they should remain aware and be vigilant while purchasing goods and services. On the National Consumer Day Minister also felicitated winners of National Poster Making Competition organized by CCS, IIPA and released E-Book (Consumer Handbook).
The Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve, in his key note address said that “Upbhokta Devo Bhava” meaning consumer is God. He stressed on the need to regulate e-commerce and direct selling as online purchases are increasing every day. Minister specifically mentioned about the process of grievance redressal by National Consumer Helpline and Zonal Helplines in resolving consumer grievances. He said increasing number of consumers are using Consumer App for registering complaints and has been a great success. This App is being monitored in the Ministry regularly. He said that we should all work towards empowerment and awareness of consumers.
Smt. Leena Nandan, Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs in her opening remarks said that the several unique features of the new Act are advantageous to the consumer. She said that in order to spread awareness and educate, particularly those in rural areas where consumers are more susceptible to exploitation, the Department of Consumer Affairs is associating with State governments in a major way in implementing the programmes through Common Service Centres, Panchayats and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Indian Naval Ship Kiltan arrived at NhaRong Port, Ho Chi Minh City on 24 December 2020 as part of Mission Sagar-III. This Mission is part of India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries during the ongoing pandemic.
The ship will deliver 15 Tons of HADR Stores for the flood-affected people of Central Vietnam, which will be handed over to Vietnam’s Central Steering Committee for National Disaster Prevention and Control. This assistance is reflective of the deep people-to-people connect between the two friendly countries.
Mission Sagar-III is being undertaken in accordance with Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) and reiterates India’s position as a dependable partner, and the Indian Navy as the Preferred Security Partner and First Responder. The Mission also highlights the importance accorded to ASEAN countries and further strengthens the existing bonds.
India and Vietnam have a civilisational relationship that is over two millennia old. India-Vietnam relations have grown stronger in recent times due to the vibrant economic engagement and growing convergence on issues of common interests. The bilateral relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016.
The current visit seeks to enhance maritime cooperation between the two Navies and will further bolster the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries and contribute to security and stability in the region.On departure from Ho Chi Minh City, the ship will undertake a Passage Exercise with the Vietnam People’s Navy in the South China Sea from 26 to 27 December 2020.
India now has forty-two Ramsar sites.
Posted On: 24 DEC 2020 2:53PM by PIB Delhi
India has added Tso Kar Wetland Complex in Ladakh as its 42nd Ramsar site, which is a second one in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh.
Expressing happiness, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar shared this information in a tweet message today.
The Tso Kar Basin is a high-altitude wetland complex, consisting of two principal waterbodies, Startsapuk Tso, a freshwater lake of about 438 hectares to the south, and Tso Kar itself, a hypersaline lake of 1800 hectares to the north, situated in the Changthang region of Ladakh, India. It is called Tso Kar, meaning white lake, because of the white salt efflorescence found on the margins due to the evaporation of highly saline water.
The Tso Kar Basin is an A1 Category Important Bird Area (IBA) as per Bird Life International and a key staging site in the Central Asian Flyway. The site is also one of the most important breeding areas of the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) in India. This IBA is also the major breeding area for Great Crested Grebe (Podicepscristatus), Bar-headed Geese (Anserindicus), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadornaferruginea), Brown-headed Gull (Larusbrunnicephalus), Lesser Sand-Plover (Charadriusmongolus) and many other species.
The aim of the Ramsar list is “to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits”.
Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. They are, in fact a major source of water and our main supply of freshwater comes from an array of wetlands which help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change would be working closely with the UT Wetland Authority to ensure wise use of this site.