Pehredaar: Time for the rise of the consumer journalist

Pehredaar is now involving consumers to ensure that the people responsible for the complaints are also held accountable.<br /><br />

FP Archives|Dec 20, 2014, 21:16:59 IST

Did you know only 18 percent of India's citizens are aware that there are dedicated consumer courts that can redress consumer grievances against companies or retailers?

Consumer lawyer Pushpa Girima, told thePehredaar showon CNBC Awaazthat things are improving and the courts are upping the ante.

"There is no respect for the consumer in this country. Also the consumer courts are not as effective as they should be. One of the reasons is that the verdict gets so delayed that it doesn't affect any one. Changes are taking place and the most important change is the fact that the courts are now imposing punitive damages," she said.

Though Pehredaar has taken up consumer cases on an individual basis from time to time, the show is now involving consumers to ensure that the people responsible for the complaints are also held accountable.

The complainant and the company/institutions/organisations will be brought face to face in a bid to resolve the issue.

Pehredaar will also take its movement forward through social media and with increased direct interactivity with the viewers will attempt to start aa movement. The show hopes to create consumer journalists like citizen journalists who take up issues and pursue it till justice is deliveredto the consumer .