This document outlines the history and development of consumer protection and the consumer movement. It discusses consumer protection in ancient times under Kautilya's Arthasasthra. The first consumer cooperatives began in the 19th century in Britain and India. The modern consumer movement arose in the 1960s in India to promote consumer interests, protection, and education. Key organizations that advanced the movement are mentioned. The document also outlines achievements and ongoing challenges to make consumer protection laws more effective and ensure consumer organizations exist nationwide.

2. OUTLINE :
 INTRODUCTION
 CONSUMER PROTECTION IN ANCIENT TIMES
 DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES
 CONSUMERS MOVEMENT IN THE MODERN PERIOD
 REASON FOR CONSUMER MOVEMENT IN
INDIA
 FACTORS STIMULATED THE CONSUMER MOVEMENT:
 IMPORTANT CONSUMER ORGNAISATION
 ACHIEVEMENT OF THE CONSUMER MOVEMENT
 CHALLLENGES AHEAD/ TASK FOR THE FUTURE

3. THE CONSUMER MOVEMENT :
Adam Smith wrote ‘Wealth of Nations’
in 1776. He said that consumers will
make choices that give them the greatest
amount of satisfaction. He was a
proponent of the invisible hand
(minimizing government intervention in
the marketplace).

4. CONSUMER PROTECTION IN ANCIENT
TIMES:
• Kautilya’s Arthasasthra
• Sales and Price of commodities were organized.
• Profit and time fixed for Traders.
• Super intendant of Commerce was to supervise weight and
measure.
• Trader who sell inferior goods as a superior goods will be
fined.
People in different parts of the countries today celebrate in
different ways the dates dedicated to the remembrance of
ancient period during which it is believed that , people’s welfare
was the first concern of the rulers.
Eg : Onam festival in Kerala

5. DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES:
• First consumer cooperative was started in Great Britain in the
year 1844.
• First consumer cooperative store in India came up in
Madras in the year 1904.
• Helps in successfully halting the abuse of monopolies & in
improving the condition of the lower-income classes.
• They have undertaken consumer education, elementary
product improvement etc.
• On the other side , movement activities have been directed
towards modification of business practices.

6. DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES:
• Encouraged by the government of many countries and India
emphasized consumer cooperatives.
• As it have achieved a great success in Scandinavian & other
European countries as a countervailing forces against
traditional marketing mechanism & promote consumer
interest.

7. CONSUMER MOVEMENTS IN THE MODERN
PERIOD :
• Consumer movement in the present form came in 60’s in India
with the basic objectives
- To provide opportunity to the consumers to buy intelligently.
- Recognition of reasonable consumer requests
- Protection against fraud, misrepresentation, unsanitary &
unjust product.
- Participation of consumer representations in management,
of aspect affecting consumers.
- Promoting consumer interest.

8. REASON FOR CONSUMER MOVEMENT IN
INDIA
In India, the basic reasons for the consumers
movement have been:
• Shortage of consumer products; inflation of early
1970's
• Adulteration and the Black Market.
• Lack of product choices due to lack of development
in technology
• Thrust of consumer movement in India has been on
availability, purity and prices

9. FACTORS STIMULATED THE CONSUMER
MOVEMENT:
The factors which stimulated the consumer movement
in recent years are:
 Increasing consumer awareness
 Declining quality of goods and services
 Increasing consumer expectations because of
consumer education
 Influence of the pioneers and leaders of the
consumer movement
 Organized effort through consumer societies

10. IMPORTANT CONSUMER ORGANIZATION:
• Passengers And Traffic Relief Association (PATRA)
• Women Graduate Union (WGU) .
• Triplicane Urban Cooperative Store.
• Indian Association of Consumers (IAC).
• Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI).
• Karnataka Consumer Services Society (KCSS).
• Visaka Consumer Council (VCC).

11. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CONSUMER
MOVEMENT:
o Development taking place in the field of consumer
education.
o LIC has setup claims review committees at the
zonal & central levels.
o Consumer protection is being incorporated in the
courses at different levels in schools and college.
o The Government of India has set up a separate
Directorate called Directorate of Public Grievances
at Sardar Patel Bhavan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi.

12. CHALLENGES AHEAD/ TASK FOR THE
FUTURES :
 Making the Consumer Protection Act effective is the first
challenges facing the consumer movement in India.
 Consumer movement needs to be extremely alert regarding
hazardous products entering the country in the wake of
liberalization.
 There are now about 1000 organizations of consumers in
existence, but all the cities and towns have not been covered.
 Lastly, the concern of consumer movement should also be to
discourage racism, communalism, violence & conspicous
consumption.

13.  The words of Anwar Fazal, Regional Director, United Nations
Development Programme for the Asia Pacific Region, "The
Consumer Movement should be directed towards service to
the people and the Environment instead of just ensuring value
for money for consumers." Consumer movement should seek
a new vision which embodies 3 new cultures.
 the culture of balance and harmony (so well provided by
nature),
 the culture of trusteeship and stewardship (as we are only
guardians of earth)
 culture of accountability to the future.