04/08/2026
It was a great privilege and honour to participate as a Chief Guest at the Citizen Consumer Club Inauguration Programme 2026, organised by the Citizen Consumer Club of Sri Amaraavathi College of Arts & Science, Karur.
I was delighted to share the platform with Dr. K. K. Chockalingam, State Chairman and Trainer, Federation of Consumer Organizations, Karur; Dr. G. Selvaraj, Designated Officer, Food Safety Department, Karur District; and Mr. N. Dhanapalraja, District and State Consumer Club Coordinator.
My heartfelt gratitude to Dr. K. K. Chockalingam for providing me with this valuable opportunity and for his continued encouragement and support. His dedicated efforts in promoting consumer awareness, consumer education and social responsibility among the public and student community are truly commendable.
As the State President – Women’s Wing, Global Social Welfare Protection Movement, I was pleased to interact with the students and share my thoughts on the importance of becoming informed, responsible and legally aware citizens.
During my address, I spoke about the different roles that each individual plays in society—as a citizen, customer and consumer—and the rights and responsibilities connected with each of these roles.
Consumer awareness is not limited to questioning the price or quality of a product. Every consumer has the right to safety, the right to accurate information, the right to choose, the right to be heard, the right to fair treatment and the right to seek proper grievance redressal.
I explained the importance of carefully checking product labels, prices, expiry dates, quality certifications, terms and conditions, bills, receipts, warranties and service agreements. Students were encouraged to preserve all relevant documents and evidence while purchasing products or availing services, as these records play an important role when raising a complaint.
I also spoke about the remedies available to consumers when they face:
* Defective or unsafe products
* Deficiency in services
* Unfair trade practices
* Misleading advertisements
* Overpricing or hidden charges
* False claims and deceptive marketing
* Online shopping frauds
* Poor-quality products or services
* Denial of warranties or promised benefits
The students were sensitised about the importance of approaching the appropriate consumer grievance mechanisms, Consumer Commissions and other competent authorities to seek lawful remedies. Awareness of legal procedures gives individuals the confidence to question injustice and protect their rights without fear.
The session also focused on civil rights, civic duties and responsible citizenship. I emphasised that rights and responsibilities must always go hand in hand. A responsible citizen must respect the rights of others, follow the law, question injustice through lawful means and actively contribute to creating a fair, transparent and accountable society.
An informed citizen does not remain silent when exploitation, discrimination or injustice occurs. At the same time, every grievance must be raised responsibly, with proper evidence and through the appropriate legal or institutional mechanism.
As part of the interaction, I also spoke about the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, commonly known as the POSH Act.
Every woman has the right to work, study and participate in public life in an environment that is safe, dignified and free from sexual harassment. I explained the importance of understanding what constitutes sexual harassment, the need for preventive awareness, the role of Internal Committees, the complaint process and the responsibility of institutions to address complaints fairly and sensitively.
I highlighted that creating a safe workplace or educational environment is not merely a matter of legal compliance. It is a collective responsibility that requires awareness, respect, accountability and timely action from management, employees, teachers and students.
The Citizen Consumer Club can serve as a powerful platform for empowering students with knowledge about consumer rights, civil rights, legal remedies, social responsibility and ethical citizenship. Such initiatives can shape young people into confident individuals who are aware of their rights, conscious of their duties and courageous enough to stand against exploitation and injustice.
My sincere appreciation to Dr. Usha Ravichandran, Principal; Ms. Kesavardhini R, Programme Coordinator; the management, faculty members, organisers and students of Sri Amaraavathi College of Arts & Science for organising this meaningful and socially relevant programme.
Let us work together to create a generation that is not only academically educated but also legally aware, socially responsible, ethically conscious and empowered to protect both their own rights and the rights of others.
