Forum lays out agendas to improve services

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 17

The Patiala Consumers & Telephone Subscribers Forum in coordination with the Food, Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department celebrated the World Consumer Rights Day at Amar Ashram here.

HS Arora, president of the forum, welcomed the guests and members and thanked them for the support in running the forum for more than two years. He highlighted the achievements and agendas for improving services related to the railways, road transport, postal department and the BSNL.

OP Garg, forum’s secretary, gave details of the forum’s performance during the year.

Chief Guest Jagtar Singh, IRS, Principal Commissioner Income Tax (retd), appreciated the forum for playing an important in spreading consumer awareness and solving their problems. In his address, he appreciated the formation of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, to support consumer rights.

He said one should also work for others instead of always working for personal profit.

Sudhir Rahi, Director Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), spoke on the importance of adopting BIS-marked products and hallmarking of ornaments. A souvenir containing messages, activity report, articles and other useful information was released by Er MS Ahuja on the occasion.

The forum also honoured two eminent personalities — Pran Sabharwal, “Patiala Rattan” art director for stage, TV and films, who has so far performed 203 monthly garden theatre acts under the banner of the NTAS, and Satinder Walia, a poet who manages Shaeed Parivar, an organisation that helps widows and J&K victims.