Page 131 - Understanding Economics for Class 10
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(ii)  It took years of struggle to make cigarette manufacturing companies accept that their
                                product could cause cancer.
                            Hence, to ensure protection for consumers, there is a need for rules and regulations.

               Goyal Brothers Prakashan
                                                    LET’S  WORK  THESE  OUT                        (Page No. 77)

                          1.  What are the various ways by which people may be exploited in the market?
                        Ans.  There are numerous various ways by which people may be exploited in the market: Few
                            of them are:
                             (i)  Consumers get  cheated  when shopkeepers  use incorrect  weights  and  measures,  put
                                extra charges in the bill, adulterate the foodstuff that they intend to sell, sell defective
                                goods, or sell goods that have expired.
                            (ii)  Sellers  sometimes  pass false  information  about  their  product  to  consumers  through
                                media.
                            (iii)  Sometimes consumers are not provided with satisfactory after sale service. The seller
                                tries to escape by shifting all the responsibility on to the buyer.

                          2.  Think  of one  example  from your experience  where  you thought  that  there  was some
                             ‘cheating’ in the market. Discuss in the classroom.
                        Ans.  Few days back, I bought a packet of wheat bread from the market. After paying for it, I
                            checked its expiry date. That packet got expired 1 day back but when I asked shopkeeper
                            to replace it, he said it is perfectly fine and you can use it, but when I refused to accept
                            it, he exchanged. I felt cheated, that without checking products, sellers are selling expiry
                            products in the market. If I had not checked the expiry date, I would have consumed it.

                          3.  What do you think should be the role of government to protect consumers?
                        Ans.  To ensure protection for consumers, there is a need for rules and regulations. Government
                            should also ensure that these rules and regulations are properly followed.


                        conSuMEr MoVEMEnt
                            Due to the indulgence of sellers in unfair practices, consumers were dissatisfied and
                            disappointed, this gives rise to the Consumer movement
                            Initially, consumers had limited legal protection against exploitation in the marketplace, leading
                            them to rely on personal measures such as avoiding certain brands or shops if dissatisfied.
                            Over time, organizations in India and worldwide worked diligently to raise awareness and
                            shift the responsibility of ensuring the quality of goods and services onto the sellers.
                            Because of the need to protect and promote the interests of consumers against unethical
                            and unfair trade practices, the consumer movement as a ‘social force’ originated in India.
                            In  1960s, rampant  food shortages,  hoarding,  black  marketing,  adulteration  of  food and
                            edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organised form.
                            During the 1970s, consumer organizations primarily focused on writing articles, organizing
                            exhibitions,  and forming consumer groups to address malpractices  in ration  shops and
                            overcrowding in road passenger transport. More recently, India has witnessed a significant
                            increase in the number of consumer groups.
                            Through persistent efforts, the consumer movement successfully exerted pressure on both
                            business firms and the government to rectify unfair business practices that disadvantaged
                            consumers.

             E-114                                                                                      Economics  Class X
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