GOINON-FCRA PROJECT
NON-FCRA PROJECTS: CONSUMER WELFARE FUND FOR NGOS
1. INTRODUCTION
The Central Excise and Salt Act,
1944 (1 of 1944) was amended in 1991 to enable the Central Government to create
the Consumer Welfare Fund where the money, which is not refundable to the
manufacturers etc., shall be credited. The money credited to the Fund is to be
utilized by the Central Government for the welfare of the consumers in
accordance with the Rules framed.
Consumer Welfare fund rules were
notified on 25th November, 1992 Subsequently on the recommendations of the
Central Consumer Protection Council, the Rules were further mended on 27th
January, 1994 to make them more broad based. The rules were further amended on
16.06.94, 16.01.95 and 13.6.2002.
The fund has been set up by the
Department of Revenue. However, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and
Public Distribution will operate it.
The overall objective of the
consumer Welfare Fund is to provide financial assistance to promote and protect
the welfare of the consumers and strengthen the voluntary consumer movement in
the country particularly in the rural areas
2. SCHEMES & PROJECTS FINANCED
FROM CONSUMER WELFARE FUND
CONSUMER CLUBS
This scheme was launched in 2002,
according to which a consumer club shall be set up in each Middle/High/Higher
Secondary school/college affiliated to a government recognized
Board/University. This scheme has been decentralised and transferred to the
Governments of States/UTs with effect from 1.04.2004. All interested NGO/VCOs
shall apply to the Nodal Officer in the Food, PD & Consumer Welfare
Department of the respective States/UTs.
SCHEME ON PROMOTING INVOLVEMENT OF
RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
This scheme has been launched with a
view 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
topics, and to have necessary inputs for the formulation of
policy/programme/scheme for the protection and welfare of the consumers.