Right to Information Act is a basic human right: Mr. A. A Chipa

Department of Resource Management and Consumer Sciences organized sessions on RTI and Consumer awareness on authentication of weights and measures on the fourth day of the training program on "Consumer Empowerment through Rights and Legal Protection" in CCAS, MPUAT. Dr. Meenu Srivastava, Dean CCAS, MPUAT addressed the students and stressed on how consumers are experiencing fraud mainly on social media sites and almost one-third of Indian consumers have been victims of online fraud. 

Dr. Suman Singh introduced the speakers and highlighted that RTI can be used as an effective tool in demanding greater accountability on the part of the public and private authorities. In addition to that she also explained that correct weights and measures usage is needed if we want to have transparency in business practices. The first speaker of the day, Mr. A. A. Chipa, Ex-Director, TRI, Udaipur elucidated that empowering the citizens to seek information under RTI is needed to maintain transparency, to check the large-scale corruption caused in the system and to escalate the awareness of the citizens regarding the governmental functions. Another speaker Mr. Ramavtar Poonia, Legal Metrology Officer, GoR, Rajasthan addressed the issue of consumer awareness on authentication of weights and measures and explained that standards of weights and measures ensures that the product or goods purchased are weighed correctly. Packaged commodities are also included under Legal Metrological department. He also added that Weights and measures offences are strictly punishable under IPC. 

Dr. Anjali Juyal proposed vote of thanks on behalf of the organizing team. Dr. Hemu Rathore, Dr. Suman Singh, Dr. Gaytri Tiwari, Dr. Jaymala Dave, Dr. Arpita Jain, Ms. Charu Nagar and Ms. Bipasha Bhowmick gave their valuable contribution in the organization of the programme.