World Consumer Rights Day is an annual occasion for expressing solidarity within the international consumer movement ,promoting the basic rights of all consumers, and for a firm reaffirmation that those rights are respected and protected. It commemorates a historic declaration of four consumer rights made by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy on 15th March 1962. It was first observed on 15th March 1983 by Consumers International (CI),and has since become an important occasion for mobilizing citizen action and is observed every year on 15th March all over the world.

In India, the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA), 1986 is considered as one of the most significant achievements in the Consumer Movement. It is one of the most progressive and comprehensive pieces of legislations that cover goods and services. The Act provides for a separate three-tier Quasi Judicial consumer dispute redressal machinery at the national, state and district levels. Further in the Amendment of the Act in 2002,while bringing spurious goods and services within the ambit of the Act, the scope of unsafe goods and services that are hazardous to life and safety have also been enlarged.

In India the Department of Consumer Affairs being the nodal  Department for the protection and welfare of consumers, started observing the World Consumer Rights Day from 1988 on wards. This year's theme for the World Consumer Rights Day is consumer health and safety. To spread the message of consumer health and safety, all the Central   Ministries   having   consumer   interface,  State Governments /UT Govt., voluntary Consumer Organization, Industrial Houses, Education Institutions have planned to observe the day in a befitting manner by highlighting consumer welfare related activities. Highlighting  the precautions to be taken by the consumers while buying/utilizing the goods/services, popularizing simple formula for detection of adulteration and spurious nature of products and recognizing the visible sign of adulterated food products/ spurious drugs, etc.

There are a number of legal and penal provisions, enactments, legislations and regulations but most important requirement is the creation of awareness among the consumers regarding these provisions and the scope for legal redressal.

The Department of Posts is pleased to issue a commemorative postage stamp on  the World Consumer Rights Day.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India