Explain the rights and responsibilities of a consumer.

Rights of a consumer:
(i) Right to Safety: It is the right to safety against such goods and services as are hazardous to health, life and property of the consumer. For example, spurious and sub-standard drugs.

(ii) Right to be Informed: Consumer has also the right that he should be provided all the information on the basis of which he decides to buy goods or services. Such information relate to quality, purity, potency, standard, date of manufacture, method of use, etc. of the commodity.

(iii) Right to Choose: Consumer has the full right to buy any good or service of his choice from among the different goods or services available in the market. In other words, no seller can influence his choice in an unfair manner.
Responsibilities of a consumer:

(i) Consumer must exercise his Rights: Consumers have many rights with regard to the goods and services. They must be aware of their rights while buying. These rights are: right of safety, right to be informed, right to representation, right to seek redressal, right to consumer education, etc.

(ii) Cautious Consumer /do not buy Blindly: The consumers should make full use of their reason while buying things. They should not take the seller’s words as the final truth. In other words, while buying consumer must get information regarding the quality, quantity, price, utility, etc. of goods and services.

(iii) Filing complaint for the redressal of genuine grievances: It is the responsibility of the consumers to approach the officer concerned in case there is some complaint about the goods purchased. A late complaint may find that the period of guarantee/warrantee has lapsed. Sometimes, consumers ignore the deception of businessmen. This tendency encourages corrupt business practices.