People belonging to the lower and fixed income groups continue to reel under the burden of spiraling prices of essential commodities and that too in short weights and measures, not to speak of the quality.

How is one to explain the long-drawn-out absence of a consumer law? Two hard truths have sprung up at a discussion forum organised by Consumer's Trust (TCT), a non-government organisation: No political government in cohorts with trader syndicates has shown any interest in a consumer protection law because that is not to their long-term gains. The implication is that they are bound by common interest in profiting from the market operations. They are also not users of local products, not in the sense middle and lower income groups are dependent on, so they are hardly bothered by higher prices of imported products.

The rising costs are attributable to a kind of greed and excessive profit making on the part of bulk importers down to the retailers. Hoarding and black marketing are the names of the game. On one level solution lies in continuing a result-oriented consultative process girdling the government, industry, business houses and consumer representatives.

Basically, however, we need to enact stringent laws to protect the interest and rights of the consumers. In the formulation of laws, two important aspects need to be borne in mind. First, there should be special courts to try cases relating to all matters of violation of consumer rights. Secondly, business advertisements that mislead the consumers through distortion of facts should be a punishable offence.

We urge the caretaker government to attend to this matter of great public concern with high priority.