Jagriti Shivir Yojana: An integrated awareness campaign titled Jagriti Shivir Yojana was launched in June 2001. The scheme aims at spreading consumer awareness at district level by holding camps, meetings, functions, etc., through the State Government and District Administration officials in association with local elected representatives. So far an amount Rs 34.5 lakh had been released to States/UTs in respect of 65 districts till 31 March 2004. Recently, a decision has been taken to enhance the amount of grant from Rs 50,000 to one lakh for each district for organising consumer awareness programme at the district level.
District Consumer Information Centre: A new scheme to set up a District Consumer Information Centre in each district of the country in a phased manner over a period of three years at a cost of Rs five lakh per Centre was launched in October 2000. These Centres are to be set up and run by Zilla Parishads/Voluntary Consumer Organisation of repute/educational institutions on a continuous basis. They are expected to raise consumer awareness and assist consumers in seeking redressal of their grievances. So far the scheme has been sanctioned for 96 districts in the Country.
Consumer Clubs : This scheme has been introduced recently according to which a Consumer Club shall be set up in each Middle/High/Higher Secondary School/College affiliated to a government recognised Board/University. A grant of Rs 10,000 per Consumer Club for each school/college is admissible under this Scheme. Till the end of March 2004, 1,755 consumer clubs have been sanctioned in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, West Bengal and NCT of Delhi.
Promoting Involvement of Research Institutions/Universities/Colleges, etc., in Consumer Protection and Welfare: This scheme has been launched recently to sponsor research and evaluation studies in the field of consumer welfare, to provide solution to the practical problems being faced by the consumers, to sponsor seminars/workshops/conferences on the consumer related issues and to have necessary inputs for formulation of policy/programme/scheme for the protection and welfare of the consumer. The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi has been identified as the nodal organisation to administer this scheme.
