Gandhinagar: To realize the vision of Developed India @ 2047 and take consumer rights to new heights, the Gujarat Government has taken a revolutionary initiative. For the first time at the international level, the Consumer Responsibility Index (CRI) has been launched to ensure the responsibility of the corporate world towards consumers.
Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the country’s first Consumer Responsibility Index (CRI) This MoU has been signed between the Department of Consumer Affairs (Government of Gujarat), Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) and CARE Edge, with the main objective of developing and implementing the country’s first Consumer Responsibility Index (CRI).
This MoU reflects the seriousness and commitment of the government to ensure corporate accountability towards consumers and to create a transparent market system by promoting ethical business practices.
Main Objective and Significance of CRI: Moving beyond the traditional market approach till now, CRI will now usher in a new era of greater transparency, mutual respect and accountability in the relationship between industries and consumers.
Transparent Assessment: CRI will conduct a scientific and data-based independent assessment of how industries deal with consumers.
Customer Centric Approach: This index will be prepared by placing the Indian consumer at the centre of future development.
Ethical Incentive: It will motivate service providers to adopt the highest quality standards and transparent policies.
CERC Chairman Dr. Sunil Parekh said about this index, “With this index, corporate responsibility will no longer be just a concept but a measurable standard. CERC is keen to work with the government and CARE Edge to create a framework that empowers every citizen of India with clarity and confidence. This innovative initiative of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of Gujarat to institutionalize consumer rights will prove to be transformative and welcome. A holistic eco-system of consumer empowerment: Justice will now be more accessible and faste.
This agreement between CERC and the Government of Gujarat is not limited to just the Consumer Responsibility Index (CRI), apart from index development, an MOU has also been signed between CERC and the Government of Gujarat to develop an entire eco-system. In which the following provisions will be implemented.
1. District-level facilitation: Conciliation and pre-litigation centers will be set up in all districts of Gujarat, so that justice becomes accessible and affordable to consumers.
2. Awareness Campaign: Youth and citizens will be sensitized about consumer rights and cyber security.
3. Cyber Safe Gujarat: A special framework will be prepared for consumer protection in the digital age.
Led byi Mona Khandhar, Additional Chief Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department, this initiative will further modernize the consumer protection framework. With the combination of digital technology like CBDC and ethical systems like CRI, Gujarat will move towards global standards of customer service.
