Mangaluru : Zilla Panchayat Executive Officer P I Srividya stressed on the need to question violation of consumer rights, no matter how insignificant they might seem, as they are at stake.

She was speaking after inaugurating the World Consumer Day programme organised by the district administration, Department of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and District Consumer Information Centre and District Federation of Consumer Organization at the zilla panchayat Hall on Tuesday.

Srividya said awareness on consumer rights needs to be created in villages. Both product and service are important factors in consumer rights, she said.

The zilla panchayat has conducted programmes on consumer education for Stree Shakti group members in villages, she said and called upon the students, who have undergone certificate courses on consumer education, to create awareness among masses in this regard.

She said, “Antibiotics are injected to animals for meat production. Therefore, ‘Antibiotics Off Your Food Menu’ is the slogan for this year’s World Consumer Rights Day.”

District Federation of Consumer Organisations President M J Salian, in his keynote address, said all 30 districts have consumer information centres in the State.

Indian Institute of Public Administration and Centre for Consumer Studies (CCS) have been providing training in consumer rights and related subjects. Consumer Clubs have been formed in colleges to train the students about consumer rights and consumer acts, he added.

He urged the government to designate food safety officers to the district as there is a shortage of food safety officers. This is essential to prevent adulteration of food, he said.

Mangalore University Registrar (Evaluation) A M Khan, who was the chief guest, said consumers should be organised. He felt for a need to upgrade the certificate course on consumer rights, to a diploma course. Winners of certificate courses were awarded prizes on the occasion.

District Legal Services Authority Member Secretary Ganesh B, district Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department Deputy Director Dr M Dasegowda and SDM Business Management College Principal Aruna P Kamath were present.

St Philomena College, Puttur, Govindadasa College, Surathkal, Canara First Grade College, Mangaluru, and SDM Business Management College, Mangaluru, were awarded prizes for best consumer clubs.

Best performances in Certificate Course in Consumer Education: Gold Medal – Likhita, SDM Business Management College; Silver – Shared between Jyothi, SDM Business Management College and Prajnadevi, Canara First Grade College and Bronze – Nandakumar, SDM Business Management CollegeBest Club Director: First – Prof Diwakar, St Philomena College, Puttur; Second – shared between Vinoda, Canara First Grade College and Deviprasad, SDM Business Management College and consolation – Dr Ashalata, Govindadasa College, Surathkal.