How important is the role of media in highlighting the various issues related to consumer exploitation?

Mass media is the best way of communicating with a larger audience in a short span of time. The consumer can be made aware of the Consumer Protection Act and many other programmes for consumer protection. It plays a significant role in the sphere of consumer exploitation in the following manner:

• It is the media that increases the awareness about the law that is available for the consumers and their role in the market. The consumer gets aware of the consumer laws by the advertisements of the government and recent issues around them. The government and many NGOs engage in awareness programme through media.

The Rajasthan government has introduced the telecast of a talk show Law Point every weekend. It is broadcasted through the All India Radio, Doordarshan and the Community Radio. Every legal aspect of the issues would be discussed in the show.

• Media can bring out the products which are not met with the standards of the quality mentioned by the quality assessment organization. When the consumers are aware of the defects of the products, then they will stop the consumption of that product.

When the food product Maggi was said to be containing materials which cause cancer, the demand for that product reduced even though the product was available in the market.