“Adding one more online line services to the dozens of online services launched for the purposes of bringing relief and respite to the people undoubtedly shows the government’s concerns on the rights of the consumers”.
The redressal of the consumer’s complaints in Jammu & Kashmir is and should always be pressing concerns for both the Government and as well as the people. The time when the Jammu & Kashmir Government has eased the accessibility of the people to several key services and facilities, the launch of ‘e-Daakhil Portal’ by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta for the redressal of the complaints of consumers and also consumer disputes could be a game changer in the fast changing system of ‘ e-governance’ in Jammu & Kashmir. However what matters is the working of the “e-Daakhil Portal” for the purposes with which it has been launched. What deserves the attention of the Government is the fact that while the unprecedented rise in consumer complaints and the consumer disputes does not dead end in Jammu & Kashmir like many states and union territories of the country, the complaint redressal system is not as strong as it should have been for the purposes of relief and respite to consumers. Adding one more online line services to the dozens of online services launched for the purposes of bringing relief and respite to the people undoubtedly shows the government’s concerns on the rights of the consumers. Though the onus of registering complaints about availability of stocks and delivery of services at ration depots besides regulation of the prices of essential commodities in markets on “e-Daakhil Portal” lies on consumers but it is also an equally irrefutable fact that the onus of taking suo moto cognizance of the grievances of consumers on matters like availability of stocks and delivery of ration at ration depots and regulation of the prices of essential commodities in markets lies on the twin directorates of Kashmir and Jammu of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department.
“For making any online services successful and particularly the “e-Daakhil Portal” the accessibility of people to hassle free internet services in remote and far flung areas is must as still many hilly areas in both Kashmir Valley and Jammu are yet to get internet facility. The State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions already established by the Government will have now hopefully a great role in making the consumer redressal system more responsive and consumer friendly”.
The bigger respite consumers would have now is that the consumer grievance redressal procedure won’t be timing consuming exercise but instead the concerned officers would be duty bound to settle grievance issues in short and they could be now punished for any intentional delay in settling the consumer complaints and also the consumer disputes. However for making any online services successful and particularly the “e-Daakhil Portal” the accessibility of people to hassle free internet services in remote and far flung areas is must as still many hilly areas in both Kashmir Valley and Jammu are yet to get internet facility. The State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions already established by the Government will have now hopefully a great role in making the consumer redressal system more responsive and consumer friendly.
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