Grahak Shakti: Economic Democracy and Consumer Rights | Satya Samvad Ep4

Rajiv Malhotra's Podcast

In the fourth episode of Satya Samvad, Dr. Mrittunjoy Guha Majumdar interacts with eminent social activist Shri V. K. Somashekar, Managing Trustee of Grahak Shakti and Member of the Consumer Action Group of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), on what are consumer rights, particularly in the Bharatiya context, and how we can work with testing and benchmarking of goods and services, technological tools, multi-dimensional advocacy and Aatmanirbharata, for re-envisioning the terms of engagement of consumers with the market and polity. Beyond transactions, modern consumerism shapes norms, defines identities, and influences economies. Today, consumers want the best goods and services for the best value, available to the most people. The marketplace is as much about control as it is of choice, as much about embracing aspirations as of empowerment. From chatbots to ChatGPT, technology such as artificial intelligence is transforming the way that businesses and services interact with consumers. Despite the formulation and implementation of the rather comprehensive Consumer Protection Act 2019, Bharat still grapples with various consumer rights violations, ranging from online fraud and product adulteration to inadequate redressal mechanisms. Any move to strengthen the consumer rights movement is a move towards decolonization and reinforcing economic democracy in the country. The more aware, the more involved our citizens are, as consumers within the political economy of the nation, the more robust will our democracy be, going forward. Snakes in the Ganga - http://www.snakesintheganga.com Varna Jati Caste - http://www.varnajaticaste.com The Battle For IIT's - http://www.battleforiits.com Power of future Machines - http://www.poweroffuturemachines.com 10 heads of Ravana - http://www.tenheadsofravana.com To support Infinity Foundation’s projects including the continuation of such episodes and the research we do: इनफिनिटी फ़ौंडेशन की परियोजनाओं को अनुदान देने के लिए व इस प्रकार के एपिसोड और हमारे द्वारा किये जाने वाले शोध को जारी रखने के लिए: http://infinityfoundation.com/donate-2/

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