ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS DIRECTORATES OF FEDCOT

FEDCOT has 11 directorates, each having specialised in and acting on a particular field. They are as follows :

• Training
• Agriculture
• Food and Public Distribution
• Women Concern
• Public Utilities
• Standards
• Environment
• Local Self-Governance
• Health
• Law
• Membership

DIRECTORATE OF TRAINING

The training unit of FEDCOT, was formally launched on 31 May 1992 to impart knowledge, skill, attitude to members in regard to consumer affairs. It has now a well-established office premises in Nagercoil. The training team has been functioning very effectively and has been keeping the movement alive in different parts of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The different training programmes conducted by the training directorate of FEDCOT could be categorised as follows:

• Special Training Programme for Women
• General Awareness Training Programme
• Special Training for NSS Programme Officers
• Trainer’s Training
• Special Workshop
• Workshop on unfair and restrictive trade practices

General consumer awareness was the focus of the training programmes. The training methodologies used in these programmes have left a lasting impact on the participants.

A total of twelve Special Training Programmes for women were conducted in 1994-95 by FEDCOT in various places in Tamil Nadu. About 500 participants participated in them and benefited from them.

Three General Awareness Training Programmes were arranged in 1994-1995 in Pondicherry and various districts of Tamil Nadu. About 115 participants benefited from these programmes. During this year several special training sessions and workshops were conducted. Special workshops included those for NSS programme officers, some for activists, and lawyers on unfair trade practices, another on the experience of the bulk-buying schemes and yet another on health and health related issues.

1997-98

From April 1997 to March 1998 eight Zonal Training Camps were organised. A Special Training Camp was organised on 20-21 December 1997 for member organisations of FEDCOT to explore the sources for financial assistance for the expansion of their activities. The participants were trained in preparing plan reports and the methods to get financial assistance from financial institutions. To ensure that women played a major role in consumer rights awareness, a training camp was organised for young consumer leaders. The objective was to identify such women and improve their ability through training. On 3 January 1998 FEDCOT conducted a one-day training camp for women co-ordinators in Madurai on the right to get information Mr. Ossie Fernandes, director of Chennai Human Resource Foundation, Miss. Selvi, High-Court lawyer and Mr. Nagendran from Legal Resources’ for Social Action (LRSA) and Karur Devasahayam were the resource persons. Three Zonal level training camps were conducted by FEDCOT against unfair trade practices in February and March 1998. Finding that it would be easy to create consumer rights awareness among rural people if presented using theatrical devices FEDCOT decided to have its own cultural troupe. With this idea a consumer cultural training camp was organised from 26 February to 2 March 1998 at Dindigul. Participants were trained in drama, consumer movement songs and villupattu (a folk-song which narrates a story adapted to our purpose). The trainees of this workshop performed live in front of an audience in the NSS camps held by Gandhigram Rural University in Dindigul District from 15 to 22 March 1998. In the year 1997-98, for new members, training camps were arranged in 26 districts and in 29 taluks with 1502 trainees including 429 women. The training helped them receive consumer rights awareness education through FEDCOT and strengthen the grassroots level member councils.

1998-99

The Training Directorate of FEDCOT organised two training camps for new consumer group leaders one in Salem and the other in Villupuram. Training directorate in collaboration with other voluntary organisations arranged a number of training camps in various places. The focus of the training camps was on consumer awareness, consumer problems, realisation of the problems of rural people etc. A consumer awareness camp was conducted on 22 and 23 February 1999 for NSS Students of Madurai Kamaraj University. Training directorate used its consumer information exhibits in different places on different occasions and kept the people informed of the consumer rights. For young consumer leaders a training manual was brought out with a view to making them understand consumer-related issues so as to handle the consumer complaints in a better way.

1999-2000

In this year training directorate had arranged its own training camps besides helping the other directorates in organising their training camps.

Training Directorate – training camps

Ø Tiruchy Zonal Level Consumer Welfare Training was arranged in Gandhigram in Dindigul district from 23 to 25 April 1999. Ø Third Training Camp was conducted to improve the functioning of consumer leaders in Samayapuram, Tiruchy, from 23 to 25 April 1999. Ø Thanjavur Zonal Level Consumer Welfare Training was arranged in Thanjavur from 20 to 22 August 1999. Ø Chennai Zonal Level Consumer Welfare Training was arranged in Cuddalore from 15 to 17 August 1999. Training directorate had a significant role in the publication of various training manuals.

FEDCOT’s big show in Consumer Co-ordination Council at Delhi Convention

FEDCOT made its mark at the national level in the history of the movement with the largest number of delegates from a single State, 85 consumer activists from Tamil Nadu taking part in the two-day National Convention on “Towards the New Millennium”, held in New Delhi on 1-2 November 1999, responding to the clarion call given by the Consumer Coordination Council (CCC). The General Secretary Dr. Pirai Arivazhagan led the team of delegates of FEDCOT. At this historic meet, it should be mentioned, FEDCOT not only contributed to its successful conduct of the convention with its numerical strength, but also played a significant role in introducing some of its very important resolutions. Especially, FEDCOT cautioned about the resolution on economic liberalisation in that the Convention should not straight away welcome the globalisation as wholesome without any qualification, but wanted it to be suitably amended that while liberalised economy would be a welcome step, it did not mean that unfettered freedom was conferred on the market forces. The Hon’ble Minister and his Deputy Minister for Consumer Affairs Mr. Santha Kumar and Srinivas Prasad visited the FEDCOT’s stall put up at the Exhibition and recorded their appreciation on the highly educative value of the exhibits, especially the informative hoardings. Training directorate helped the district administration in arranging consumer exhibition on behalf of the Government in various places in Tamil Nadu. Training directorate arranged an excellent exhibition in Salem in connection with consumer day celebrations organised by Tamil Nadu Government. The District Collector who inspected them commended the exhibits.

2000-2001

“From Consumers to Socially-Oriented Citizens” became the focal point of training camps for this year. What gave an added fillip to this orientation was the Consumer International (CI). To place emphasis on this viewpoint considerable time was allotted when imparting training at district level. After deep study gender orientation in social outlook was included in training study material. About 25 district training camps were organised during this period. About 155 consumer groups and 419 participants were benefited from these camps. Training directorate was involved in implementing consumer awareness programmes for school and college students. For NSS students of various colleges in different districts, seminars were conducted on the following two topics: - Impact of Privatization on the Consumers - Globalisation and Rural Development During this period the Training directorate specially prepared fifty exhibits for second consumer rights awareness exhibition with the financial help of Tamil Nadu Government. An audio-cassettee containing ten consumer rights awareness songs was brought out. These songs were used during the cultural training held in February 1999. They impressed all the participants.

2001-2002

The Training directorate recorded phenomenal growth during the last ten years, which was a period of intensive activity for it. In 2001-2002 with the financial help of Tamil Nadu Government this directorate conducted consumer awareness programmes for high school students. For consumer groups Zonal-level seminars were conducted on the topic “Impact of Globalisation on Consumption Pattern”. Consumer group representatives not only participated in these programmes but expressed their concern about the dangerous effects of advertisements leading to deterioration of values in the society. They called for fundamental revolution in human values. Prof. Peer Mohamed, training director, had participated in various seminars as resource person and made his valuable suggestions for creating consumer rights awareness among people.

2002-2003

Training directorate conducted five Zonal Seminars in Madurai, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Salem and Chennai. The theme for these seminars was “People and their rights”. The objectives of the seminars were: - To enable people to understand their rights - To fight when rights are denied - To get back denied rights - To protect themselves from exploitation All FEDCOT groups participated in the seminars and the final outcome of the process was noteworthy. For this seminar five different rights of the people were the focal point. - Fundamental rights - Human rights - Workers’ rights - Women’s rights - Right to education Experts were requested to write papers on the following subjects: Ø Fundamental rights Ø Justice Ø Access to information Ø Environment Ø Women’s rights Ø Social justice Ø Unorganised labourers Ø Right to education Besides, information was gathered on Central Government schemes, doctors’ code of conduct, lock-out and its impact on jobs. Different pieces of information thus collected were put together. Seminar papers and the various pieces of information compiled were used as a guide and it was distributed to every participant trainee. In all, 604 participants from 178 consumer groups benefited from these seminars. 93 special guests also participated. All this led to the success of the seminar. Participation of management committee members not only enthused the participants but also had a great influence on the broad thrust of Training directorate’s policy of imparting result-oriented training programmes.

AGRICULTURE DIRECTORATE

The farming community is facing tough challenges. To produce more food to feed the growing population from shrinking land and depleting water is an uphill task. There is steady erosion of ecological foundations of agriculture. It is the millions of farmers who provide food and nutrition security for the nation. FEDCOT decided to help farming families to surmount the problems they meet with and to campaign for adoption of environmentally sustainable farming methods so as to move towards ‘ever-green revolution’. To this end in view FEDCOT set up Agriculture directorate. FEDCOT’s Agriculture directorate arranged for a State-level seminar in Tiruthuraipundi, Tiruvarur District on 27 May 1997 under the leadership of Mr. R. Jayaraman. The following issues were taken up for discussion in the seminar. Ø Cauvery water distribution. Ø Free electricity for agriculture. Ø Credit and insurance facilities for agriculture. Ø Cyclone, drought and flood relief work. Ø Agriculture input distribution. Ø Marketing of agricultural products and Ø Agriculture infrastructure maintenance. Agriculture directorate had filed two cases in the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum claiming compensation for 26 farmers who were adversely affected by the purchase of paddy-seeds. It also filed cases on behalf of the fishermen. In collaboration with Nagapattinam Sneha–Neidal NGOs’ pre-cautionary steps were taken in connection with the impact of the proposed East-Coast Road construction.

Campaign against Monsanto Seeds

Monsanto, the multinational corporation, is trying to compel the farmers to buy seeds from it. Monsanto is trying to sell sterile seeds to the farmers. The result is that the traditional method of keeping aside a certain portion of the produce as seeds will be eliminated and farmers will be made to buy seeds every time from this company. Therefore campaigns were launched for farmers’ awareness. Agriculture directorate’s planning and one-day training camp was organised on 9 July 1999 in Thanjavur under the chairmanship of Prof. Srinivasa Narayanaswami. Dr.Pirai Arivazhagan, FEDCOT’s General Secretary, presided over the session. Mr.T. Kathiresan, Joint Director of Agriculture, Thanjavur was the guest of honour. M. Jothi, Deputy Director of Agriculture Tiruvidaimarudur spoke about the Integrated Crop-Protection in Cultivation in Thanjavur. Mr. S. Vaithyalingam seed–research director, Thanjavur, spoke about quality seed production, Mr. Kalaivanan, Agricultural Products Quality Control Director, Mr. R. Jeyapaul and Mr.R.Pandiarajan also spoke. M/s. Leesa J. Kennedy of Tiruchy Farmers Association spoke about the present situation relating to Monsanto company seeds. Later a future action plan meeting was held under the presidentship of Prof. R. Kaladharan FEDCOT’s Tiruchy region co-ordinator. The impact of crop insurance on farmers and the necessity for a non-political farmers’ organisations were also discussed in this meeting. It was planned to do a field work on the impact of crop insurance and then file a public interest litigation. On behalf of FEDCOT’s Agriculture directorate a one-day seminar was organised on 28 December 1999 in Swamimalai in Thanjavur district. The theme of the seminar was “Towards Natural Farming in the Year 2000”. Mr. K. Ramamoorthy, Secretary of the Muthupet Environmental Protection Society, appealed to the farmers to change their cropping pattern and to cultivate nature-oriented grains, cotton, oil seeds and vegetables. Later Mr. Nammazvar, natural–farming scientist, shared the results of his experiments with the farmers assembled there. Mr. S. Martin presided over the second session on ‘Irrigation Management’. Mr. P.R. Kuppusami, a well-known advocate and president, Cauvery – River Protection Council took an overall view of farming. A manual prepared by FEDCOT’s agriculture directorate was released on this occasion. Mr. K.R. Jeyaraman took over as director of Agriculture. He went about meeting the higher officials in connection with the problems faced by farmers and fishermen and tried to find solutions to their problems then and there. District collectors have been holding monthly meetings to hear farmers’ problems. FEDCOT Agriculture directorate committee members have been participating in such meetings and together solutions to the local farmers problems are found. An in-depth training camp was organised for committee members from 8 to 12 November 2000. The Management Committee members, different directors and district co-ordinators participated in it. During the camp, a day was allotted for field research to study the impact of shrimp farms and salt-ponds on the environment and people. FEDCOT’s Food directorate and Agriculture directorate jointly organised a seminar on 20 January 2001 at Chennai. The theme of the seminar was “Food Security”. FEDCOT representatives and several consumer groups participated in the seminar. Several public welfare problems were taken up during this period and solutions found to most of them.

Salt-ponds Impact on farm lands

The adverse impact of salt-ponds on agriculture and drinking water in Tiruvarur taluk was brought to the notice of the State Government after field research.

Defaulted Agriculture Co-operative Society

The Agriculture directorate brought to the notice of the State Government the default and cheating to the tune of twenty two lakhs caused in Agriculture Co-operative Society Tiruthuraipundi.

Illegal mining of silicate sand

Vedaranyam taluk in Nagapattinam district has rare silicate, a non-metallic element mixed with sand and silica. Tenants in the area were mining and illegally taking sand worth several crores of rupees. Attention of the State Government was drawn to take immediate action to stop the activity. A three-stage in-depth training camp was organised for representatives of Agriculture directorate of FEDCOT in Kanyakumari. Focus of the first-stage training was on - Welfare programmes to be implemented through panchayats - Need to create herbal medicine farms - Ground water protection. - Working of marketing groups - Food security - Current problems in Indian agriculture - Role of non-government organisations Participants were given training in field work-cum-demonstration on the following subjects : - Hill area horticulture - Horticulture - Growing of rubber trees The Second Stage of the training camp was held in Chennai. The following issues were taken up : - Impact of genetically–modified seeds - Rights of farmers - Adverse impact of chemical fertilizers It was decided that the Agriculture directorate would represent not only consumers interest but also violation of human rights. The third stage of the training was organised in Tiruvarur. The following subjects were taken up for discussion: - The benefits of Agricultural Marketing Committees to the farmers. - Representation of consumers in the Marketing Committee. A second field work was conducted to assess the impact of excessive rain water on the cultivating fields, to find out whether the relief measures and benefits from Government’s welfare schemes reached the farmers. Field work revealed that the relief money granted by the Government did not reach the farmers. Cheating by officials and default had taken place amounting to several lakhs of rupees. On the basis of the evidence collected by FEDCOT it was decided to file a public interest litigation. It was decided to make efforts to assess the working of - Regulated markets - Co-operative Marketing Society, and - Sale of agricultural produce in the state by the directorate From 16 to 18 August 2002 an intensive training camp was organised in Tiruchy. Mr. S. Ramanathan, Director of Tamil Nadu Paddy Research Centre, Aduthurai, participated in it and gave valuable information on the theme. A manual was released.

Training was given in the following subjects :

Subjects	Resource Persons
Nutrition management	Dr. K. Natarajan
Role of cultivation in Agriculture	Mr. K. Thiagarajan
Impact of uncontrolled exploitation of ground water	Mr. Prathap Kumar
Nature in agriculture	Mr. N. Ponnusami
Role of women in agriculture	Mrs. Sakuntala Srinivasan
Marketing management in agriculture	Mr. R. Ponnambalam
Farmers market and consumer welfare	Mr. G. Kannan
Food security in agriculture education today	Prof. Peer Mohamad

Dr. K. Natarajan pointed out that FEDCOT communicated the ideas, concepts and things to a lot of people through its splendid network and said that all help and support should be given to it. In the planning committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Prof.P.Duraisingam, it was pointed out that out of 270 regulated markets in Tamil Nadu, very few were functioning. The way in which some of them were working was far from satisfactory. It was decided to find the causes for improper functioning and the methods to make them function better and to place the findings before the Government. It was planned to study the working of five regulated markets in each district and interview five farmers and five traders. The information thus gathered would form an integrated report, which would be submitted to the ministers and officials concerned. In the committee meeting held on 26 March 2003 the following issues were taken up for discussion : - Water management - Over-exploitation of groundwater by a multinational company producing soft drinks in Sivagangai District - To give training to members in Aduthurai Paddy Research Station, and - To publish the results of the field work on regulated market in the form of a book.

FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION - DIRECTORATE

Food is the basic necessity of human kind. Therefore it is the responsibility of any welfare state to provide not only adequate food but to ensure safe food for all. A State-level workshop was organised involving government and non-government organisations to revamp the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Objectives of the workshop

To study the functioning of PDS system in other States in India. - To evaluate the functioning of PDS in Tamil Nadu on the basis of the experience. - To suggest workable proposals and to launch campaign against malpractices.

Activities

Representatives from various States were invited to present papers detailing the PDS model followed in their respective States. - Special papers were read by experts (not connected with government) in Tamil Nadu to critically evaluate the functioning of PDS. - Representatives of various trade unions of workers engaged in the PDS system were invited to participate in the discussion. - Proposals of this colloquium were submitted to the State Government for implementation.

Programme to explain CODEX ALIMENTARIUS

The Codex Alimentarius was established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1962 to harmonise food standards among countries. Its purpose is to protect the health of consumers (by ensuring the provision of sound wholesome food) and to ensure fair practices in the food trade. It has a membership of over 165 countries accounting for 98% of the world’s population. Consumer International represents the global consumer voice at Codex Alimentarius. Its members attend the Codex Committee meetings. It works to ensure that decisions taken by these committees provide the highest level of protection for consumers across the world. FEDCOT decided to prepare a brief note in Tamil on Codex Alimentarius to explain to the member councils and then publish it later.

Compaign against junk food in and around educational institutions.

It is observed that a lot of junk food is gradually invading educational institutions and hence the need for taking initiative of a pilot nature so that it could gradually be extended to the other towns. It was planned to have the pilot programme for the campaign in Madurai, Madras (Now Chennai) Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli. Two consumer activists from each member council of FEDCOT were identified and given a one-day orientation training in Madras. Experts from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, were invited and they addressed the participants on all aspects of junk food and its effect especially on young students in schools. These activists were to go back to their town and form a team and this team was to identify five educational institutions to launch the pilot programme. Communication with the schools would have to be through personal contact and then in each of the schools, five different individuals would have to be identified, namely the Principal or Headmaster, one representative of the parent-teacher association, three teachers of whom one would be a PT teacher or the Warden of the hostel, if any. The selection of the teachers was to be made far as possible in consultation with the consumer activists so that no teacher was forced to serve on this committee. After selection of the persons, a one-day training was to be given. After the one-day programme each of the schools would try different ways of implementing the programme. After a certain period, the pilot programme would be evaluated. The different experiences in the five different schools were to be recorded. The implementation would continue for the rest of the year. On the basis of the success of this pilot project, this scheme would gradually be extended to other towns in the years to come.

Consumer plaza for detecting adulterated food

It is realised that effective steps are needed to educate the citizens about detection of adulterated food. A pilot project was carried out in the following places : Madras, Salem, Villupuram, Thanjavur and Nagercoil. From each of these towns and surrounding areas professors of chemistry, who were willing to associate themselves with this programme, were selected. The selected professors were given special training for two-days in Madras in the methods of detecting adulteration of ordinary food-stuffs used by common people. They were given a kit for the purpose. After this training, plazas were announced in each of the places mentioned above, with an interval of at least three weeks between each of the plazas. As a first step, in each of these towns selected, an action committee was formed comprising representatives of all member councils of FEDCOT from these towns. Each of these action committees would take the message to this consumer plaza through all educational institutions. Eventually it would spread among the public. Handbills and posters were used to inform the public about the plaza and inviting them to bring the food-stuffs bought from outside to be checked in the plaza. Parents and school children could bring the foods for adulteration test to the plazas. Based on the experience of this pilot project the programme was extended to other areas. FEDCOT Chairman Mr. R. Desikan served as a member of the State-level Special Committee to revamp the functioning of Ration Shops in Tamil Nadu and its recommendation was sent to the Government. FEDCOT and HIVOS together organised state-level seminar on ‘public distribution’, ‘Food Security’ and ‘Social Welfare Schemes’ from 31 January to 1 February 1998. Mr. A.K. Venkatasubramanian, Special Officer to the Chief Minister, in his special address, requested FEDCOT to join other organisations and study the Public Distribution System in the State and point out its shortcomings and suggest measures to improve it. Mrs. Shantha Sheila Nair, the then Commissioner of the Tamil Nadu Government Consumer Protection Department, stated that her Department would consult FEDCOT about Public Distribution System twice a month.

Intensive training by Food and Public Distribution directorate.

Intensive training camp was held from 25 May to 1 June 1999 in Yercaud Brightsun Matriculation School. Mr. A. Asokan, director, food directorate spoke on “Food Security at the National and World Level and the Impact of Globalisation on Food Security”. Mr. D. Anandhasayanam, legal director-FEDCOT spoke about food production, the number of people who live with hungry stomachs, diminishing cultivating lands and Monsanto seeds. On the second day, Mr. Nizamudeen, Joint Secretary, talked about the role of environment in food security. Prof. S. Peer Mohamed spoke on food standard. Mr. Fatimson talked about food security in the post Green Revolution period. Field work was carried out on the third day. Prof. P. Duraisingam, Treasurer-FEDCOT, shared his experience in Ramanathapuram district with the trainees. Prof. Victor Louis of St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli, discussed briefly on National and International Socio-economic, political and cultural scenario. On the fifth and final day Mr. Xavier Arokiasamy, director, training directorate, talked about the role of women in food-security. In co-ordination with Confederation of Consumer Council, New Delhi, FEDCOT’s Food directorate arranged for a seminar on Citizens’ Charter for public distribution in Chennai on 17 and 18 September 1999. The participants were : - Members of Food directorate on behalf of consumers. - High officials of policy decision-making department, and - Representatives of fair price shops. In the seminar a new report was prepared after analysing the Citizens’ Charter on PDS. Consumer International and VOICE, New Delhi, jointly organised South-Asian level three-day seminar on food-security and genetically- modified food in New Delhi from 14 to 16 February 2000. Mr. A. Asokan, director, Food Directorate, FEDCOT, participated in the seminar and gave his valuable suggestions. On behalf of FEDCOT’s Food directorate, a one-day seminar was organised in Salem on 28 October 2000. FEDCOT’s General Secretary, Chairman, Food directorate’s director and treasurer participated in it and gave their views on the adverse impact of the genetically modified food. FEDCOT’s Food and Public Distribution directorate selected its members for 2001-2002. A three-stage training was planned. The first stage training was organised in Pondicherry. It focused on : - Role of women in food security. - Food security - Correct measurement - Food security in natural farming - Food and public distribution - Food security and globalisation - Genetically modified food Training was given to the members in fieldwork which included interviewing the farmers to gather information on the above mentioned subjects. It was planned to educate people about the harmful effects of genetically modified seeds and to create awareness among them about public distribution and packaged food and to bring milk and milk products under PDS. Moreover, members learnt from field survey the adverse impact of chemical fertilisers. The second stage of the training was held in Chennai. In this training, members were given information on globalisation and food security, the current position of PDS, etc. The third stage of the training was held in Salem. Besides planning for the activities of the year 2001-2002, members evaluated the past activities of the directorate. The following activities were planned for the year : To request the authority concerned to ban the production of genetically–modified seeds, quality products for all at all times through public distribution, prevention of food adulteration by making quality mark statutory and to create consumer awareness in this regard. Food directorate’s three day intensive training and planning meeting was held in Salem from 30 August to 1 September 2002. Justice D. Ramachandran of the Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum, Salem, inaugurated the training session and gave special address. Lecture-cum-training was given to the members on the following topics : - Working of public distribution system - Balanced diet for healthy life - Impact of pesticides and chemical fertilisers production on food - The need for natural farming - Methods to detect adulteration - Right to food - Fast food restaurants - Prevention of food adulteration by legal procedure - Roadside restaurants - Food itself is medicine - Food security It was decided to conduct survey of roadside restaurants on 22 December 2002. Members were divided into three groups region-wise. Roadside restaurants from Tiruchy to Chennai were studied. During the survey 658 passengers travelling by Government and private buses were contacted. These buses stopped near the roadside restaurants. The results of the study are : - 58.88% of the respondents were of the view that the hygienic conditions were bad. - 38.44% of the respondents said that the quality of the food was bad. - The remaining 2.68% respondents did not offer their views. - Packaged foods like biscuits, chocolates, mineral water and cool drinks were sold at a higher price than the maximum retail price. On 28 and 29 March 2003 a meeting was held in Villupuram to self-evaluate the training and campaign against roadside restaurants. About 20,000 handbills were prepared covering the following issues : - Asking people to be careful when they eat in the roadside restaurants. - Highlighting the problems in roadside restaurants with respect to hygiene, quality of food. - Unhygienic surroundings of the restaurants and methods to avoid eating in these restaurants. Handbills were prepared and distributed in Villupuram old bus stand, new bus-stand, M.G. Road, Periyar Road, Hospital Road, Central Telegraph Office, Kamarajar Street, Nehru Street, etc. to create awareness among people about the bad effects on their health by eating in roadside restaurants.

DIRECTORATE OF WOMEN CONCERN

State -Level exhibition on “Women Towards 2000”

EKTA, the Madurai-based organisation had arranged for an exhibition on “Women Towards 2000 A.D.” from 25 to 28 February 1997. FEDCOT accepted the invitation of EKTA and arranged a stall with the exhibits focusing on the theme “Rights of consumers lead to rights of women”. The exhibits were widely appreciated by the public. For the members of the Women’s concern directorate a five-day training-cum-workshop was arranged from April 25 to 29 1999 at Gandhigram (Dindugal District). The training focused on the necessity to act as a movement when consumer rights and womens’ rights are denied in the present Indian and world socio-economic cultural and political situation. FEDCOT officials delivered lectures on the following topics : - Women’s welfare and agriculture – Mr. K.R. Jayaraman - Women in food security – Mr. A. Ashokan - Consumer rights and women – Mr. Xavier Arokiasamy - Methods to handle consumer complaints – Mr.D.Ananthasayanam. - Women and healthy life schemes – Mr.S.Martin. - Women and local self-governance – Mr.V.Damodaran. Writer Geetha addressed the members on “Indian Society’s standard of living.” Prof. Victor Louis delivered inaugural address. A training manual was brought out on womens’ problems and gender discrimination. Mrs. Lucy Xavier, director FEDCOT – Women concern participated in the workshop on Gender conducted on 28 & 29 of September 1999. Every year November 25 is celebrated as UNO’s day of protest against violence on women. On 25 November 1999 a dharna was organised in different places in the State to protest against violence on women. Posters and handbills were prepared and distributed to the public. A dharna was held in front of Government hospitals to draw the attention of the Government about the difficulties undergone by women, especially the way they are treated during delivery times at government hospitals and uncivilised attitude of staff and other irregularities. Mr. M. Nizamudeen, General Secretary-FEDCOT, organised a protest on 18 December 2000 against deaths caused by consumption of illicit liquor in Tiruvallur. Members of the Women’s directorate participated in the protest and called for complete prohibition of liquor. In March 2001 this directorate organised oral presentation on feminist views and consumer rights among voluntary associations, rural and urban women associations and school and college students. The cause of women was put through Madurai radio programmes also. For the year 2001-2002 members of the Women’s Welfare directorate were selected without any distinction between male and female members. A first-stage intensive training was organised in Madurai. Lectures were given on the following topics : - Gender discrimination - Healthy life - Consumption culture. - Women’s right is human right - Consumer protection laws - Women’s organisations Songs, research reports, wall-posters preparation, essay writing and cultural programmes formed part of teaching methods. FEDCOT management committee members participated in the programme and encouraged the members who underwent training to practise what they learnt from the training. The trainees proclaimed unequivocally on the final day of the training that they have resolved to live without gender discrimination, to resist women enslavement and to share household duties equally. This was a success for the training. The second stage of the training was organised in Chennai as part of the visit of the director of Consumer International. Lectures were given on sexual abuse, right on womens body and changes due to globalisation. In the third stage of the training, besides 23 members, district women co-ordinators also participated. Lecturers were arranged on the following topics : - Association experience. - Why association ? - Laws relating to women and - Action against violence on women. Trainees resolved to fight against injustice to women in the society. To demonstrate FEDCOT’s interest in women’s welfare a three-day intensive training was organised in Tiruchy from 23 to 25 August 2002. It was decided to study the insults perpetrated on womanhood in TV serials and in obscene advertisements in the media. A report was prepared and brought out in the form of a booklet. With the help of experts, members were given training in the following subjects : - Role of women in voluntary organisations - Present state of women’s education - Women in advertisements - Atrocities against women - Problems of working women - Legal rights for women - Importance of mother’s milk - Adverse impact of globalisation on women It was decided to study TV serials and TV advertisements from 26 August to September 15, 2002 and to protest against the insults heaped on womenhood as women are portrayed in a morally offensive fashion for selfish ends. These indecent advertisements and vulgar portrayal deny women their cultural respect in the society. A full and detailed report was prepared incorporating the findings. A function was arranged in Tiruchy to release the report and give wide publicity to it. About 350 women from Democratic Women’s Forum and women from self-help groups and colleges went in procession and submitted the report to the district collector of Tiruchy. A training to evaluate and revitalise the directorate was held in Chennai on 24 and 25 March 2003. As a follow-up it was decided to form a committee consisting of representatives from print and visual media, advertisement agencies and consumer groups. This committee would take steps to stop obscenity in advertisements. If TV and advertisement agencies fail to lend their co-operation it was decided to find legal solution.

PUBLIC UTILITIES DIRECTORATE

The provision of basic services such as banking, insurance, energy, water, transport and communications is of critical concern to all consumers. FEDCOT carries out research, policy development, training and advocacy towards consumer protection. For this purpose FEDCOT has Public Utility directorate. This directorate under the leadership of Mr.C.M. Jeyaraman conducted a survey in 14 districts of Tamil Nadu with the help of NSS and MBA students who were trained by Bangalore P.A.C. The findings of the survey shows that Tamil Nadu Transport department which was in the second place in Asia is fast deteriorating in providing quality service. It also show that : - People are not bothered about colour lights and stereo system. - People want bus services at frequent intervals and safe journey On 21 May 1998 Mr.G.Ambedkar Rajkumar Commissioner, Transport Department invited FEDCOT officials and discussed with them the findings of the survey. Under the leadership of Mr.K.V. Ezhilarasu the directorate of Public Utilities conducted a training from 10 to 17 of July 1999 in the World University Service Centre. Mr.D.G. Saranathan, Chief General Manager, Telecommunications, Chennai, inaugurated the training. Mr.A.K.Venkatasubramanian spoke about public utility departments and Citizens’ Charter. Mr. Y. Babu, General Manager, spoke about the acts pertaining to telecommunications and consumer approach towards them. Mrs. Geetha Paul, General Manager (Finance) and Mr.V.S. Balakrishnan, Deputy General Manager spoke about problems of consumers relating to Telecommunications department and the means of redressal. On the second day, the following guests addressed the trainees on various topics : Mr.V.S. Kandaswami of Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum spoke about his experiences in public utility cases. Mr. Xavier, director-training, FEDCOT, spoke about responsibilities in public utility departments. A debate was organised on the topic, “For better services in public utility departments what is urgently required is : - Proper planning - Honest administration and - Consumer awareness”. On the final day Mr. Pirai Arivazhagan, General Secretary- FEDCOT, spoke about FEDCOT’s performance and benefits to the society. Dr. M.S. Udayamurthy gave a special address on the, “Significance of people’s power.” The valedictory function was presided over by the Chief Justice Mr.N. Krishnaswami. On behalf of FEDCOT’s Public Utility directorate a survey of buses coming into bus stations was undertaken by FEDCOT members and other NGO’s with the help of NSS students of schools and colleges. The survey was done continuously for 24 hours throughout the State. The following information about the buses was gathered. Ø Number of the bus Ø Condition of the bus Ø Roof condition of the bus Ø Whether the bus is cleaned at the depot and comes clean to the bus-station Ø Whether the drivers and conductors are wearing batches and uniforms Ø Time at which bus comes in and goes out of the bus- station As a result of the survey in different districts buses were repaired and kept in better condition. In the year 2000-2001 two State-level seminars were arranged in Coimbatore. In the seminar the following issues were taken up for discussion : Ø Housing facilities Ø Drinking water facilities Ø Railway facilities Ø Electricity Ø Telecommunications, and Ø Solid waste disposal Complaints in the supply of the above facilities were received and analysed. In the first seminar problems in the railway department were taken up. They are : Ø No significant distinction in the facilities provided by the superfast and fast trains Ø Important junctions are not taken into account Ø Inadequate train facilities Ø Lack of safe drinking water Ø Higher price for food items It was decided to find out how the above problems were affecting the consumers and then to report to the government. The problems in the Telecommunications department, especially shortage of telecommunication facilities in the rural areas and delay in grievance redress were discussed and then brought to the notice of the officials concerned. In the second seminar held on 31 March 2001 problems of drinking water facilities were discussed. From the discussion the following points emerged. Ø Discrimination in the supply of drinking water Ø Lack of hygiene Ø Lack of hygiene in the overhead water tanks Ø Lack of planning in the release of water from dams The seminar suggested to the Government the methods to be adopted in times of water scarcity. The Commissioner, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation, General Manager, BSNL and Deputy General Manager of Bharat State Bank participated in the seminars. They came forward with valuable suggestions. “Save ponds, tanks and lakes” was the slogan of the year. On the basis of field research the campaigning will be done throughout Tamil Nadu by FEDCOT. The seminar decided to recommend to the Government the establishment of a public utility commission. Further a request was made to the Government to function with speed as seen in private sector and to avoid competition and evolve new technology so that the government sector benefits the people at large. The future action plan was discussed and it was decided to file public interest litigation on the basis of field research. Intensive training and planning session was held on 16, 17 and 18 August 2002 at Coimbatore Citizens’ Voice Club. Prof. Pirai Arivazhagan, Chairman-FEDCOT inaugurated the training and emphasised the need for preserving natural resources especially drinking water. Mr. C.M. Jeyaraman, director, Public Utilities–FEDCOT, welcoming the gathering said that it was decided to preserve water bodies BY launching a campaign. Mr. Duraisingam, treasurer-FEDCOT, in his address, highlighted the need to protect overhead tanks, rivers, lakes, ponds and tanks and prevent the private sector from encroaching upon and destroying water sources. The following experts addressed the gathering on various topics : - Prof. R.K. Sivanappan – Role of voluntary agencies in water saving. - Mr.Radhakrishnan – Role of youth in preserving water – sources. - Mr.V.Ganesan, Engineer, Pollution Control Board – Ways and means to control the wastage of water in homes and methods to preserve it. - Mr. Ishtak Ahamed, High Court Lawyer – Public interest litigation to preserve water sources. - Mr.S.Kannappan, Manager, Public Works Department – Government’s role in preserving water bodies. - Mr. Subramanian, Sales Manager, Dinamalar and Mr.K.A.Subramanian of The Hindu - Role of Press in preserving water bodies. Members started the campaign with the help of the NSS students of the Government Arts College, Coimbatore. They visited the Singanallur and Valankulam lake and enlisted support of the public around the area to protect water bodies. Mr. Raheem, District Revenue Officer, told the members that Government’s assistance would always be available to the public and voluntary organisations to protect groundwater resources. A refresher training was held on 8 and 9 March 2003 in Coimbatore. Members of Citizens Voice Club were thanked for their support to the activities of FEDCOT.

DIRECTORATE OF STANDARDS

The objectives of this directorate are to educate the consumers about their rights to get unadulterated and genuine products, to bring to the knowledge of the consumers the existence of the Bureau of Indian Standards, the importance of ISI certification and AGMARK seals for products etc. and benefits accruing to the consumers. A workshop on quality of products and quality determination was conducted in Chennai from 29 September to 2 October 1993. A committee was formed with the following members : Mr. R. Desikan, Mr. Parthasarathy, Mr. Henry Tiphange, Mr.Albert, Mr. Srinivasa Narayanaswami, Mr. Xavier and Mr.Ragupathi, retired Director-General of the Bureau of Indian standards. The committee conducted a workshop on quality and quality determination. About 75 participants attended the workshop and learnt about standards of most items people buy in the market and ways to determine quality. They also learnt about the practical ways to approach the consumer’s problems.

One-day seminar on Indian Standards determination

This seminar was organised in Madurai on 20 July 1994. About 50 consumer volunteers and FEDCOT members participated in it. This seminar covered all aspects of the functioning of the Bureau of Indian Standards, namely - Product certification - Grading of products - Consumer problems - Public complaints and - Indian quality control implementation department’s functioning. In this seminar Mr.G. Raman, Deputy Director, Indian Standards Institution, Mr. S. Aaravamudhan, Director Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Chennai, and Mr. T.R. Rajagopalan were guests of honour. During the interval in the afternoon, participants and officials of the BIS organisation did an unannounced testing in the traders’ premises and explained to them the principles of quality determination, legal points and compulsory quality certification. Prof. S. Peer Mohamed participated in the State-level committee on standardisation for the State of Tamil Nadu on 18 March 1996 at Chennai. He also participated in the Standing Committee on standards of weights and measures organised by the Ministry of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, New Delhi on 22 March 1996, 16 January and 17 February 1997. Prof. S. Peer Mohamed was elected member of the National Commission on Standards of Weights and Measures of India for a period of two years. It was planned to examine the weight of the commodities supplied by 100 ration shops in Nagercoil on 29 November 1996. FEDCOT’s scale was used for the purpose. After Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam district was chosen for this purpose. The move to do away with the marking of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) on the packaged food was successfully stopped by FEDCOT’S telegraph campaign. A one-day seminar was organised by this directorate in co-ordination with the Mumbai based Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI) at Chennai on 10 January 1996. More than hundred advertising experts and consumer researchers participated in it and reaped the benefits. Prof. S. Peer Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of FEDCOT, participated in a meeting of the National Forum of Legal Metrology held in Delhi on 3 March 1998. This meeting was arranged by the Secretary of the Indian Government Consumer Protection Council FEDCOT got representation in 3 sub-groups among all the sub-groups of NFLM (National Forum of Legal Metrology). The planning committee meeting of this directorate was held on 10 May 1999. Mr. Swaminathan, Inspector of the Tamil Nadu Weights and Measures and Labour Welfare Department spoke on “Weights and Measures and Laws”. A manual brought out by the Tamil Nadu Labour Welfare Department entitled, “Weights and Measures in Consumer Welfare”, was distributed. Mr. Kanakaraj, Tiruchirapalli Stamp Commissioner, explained how consumers were cheated by improper scales and weights. Then Mr. Rengaraj, Deputy Director, Agricultural Department, Tiruchirapalli, spoke about the functioning of market committees in Tamil Nadu and also the necessity to buy commodities with ‘AGMARK’. Mr. Haneefa, Agricultural Officer, demonstrated the methods to find out adulteration in ghee, turmeric powder and cooking oil. Then future action plan was discussed. It was decided to carry out the following : - To find out the trading companies selling packed things without permission and report to the Government. - To find under-weight scales without government stamp and report to the department concerned. - To check the weight of the commodities sold through Fair Price Shops throughout Tamil Nadu. On 22 February 1999 a committee meeting of the Weights and Measures Department functioning under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs was held in New Delhi. This is a sub-committee of the National Forum of Legal Metrology. Prof. S. Peer Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of FEDCOT participated in the meeting. The main function of this committee is inter-state verification of weights and measurements relating to 15 commodities moving from one State to another. In order to achieve the following objectives of this directorate several action plans were prepared and implemented. Ø People should get quality products and services. Ø Create consumer awareness against unfair trade practices. Ø To enable consumers to be familiar with laws relating to weights and measures. Ø To familiarise consumers with the methods used to determine the quality of the products. Ø To teach consumers the methods to judge the quality of the products and Ø Price control. This directorate, with the financial help of HIVOS organised a consumer awareness programme against unfair trade practices on 30 October 1999. 35,000 handbills were printed and distributed in this connection. Weights and Measures Department of the Central Government’s Ministry organised a consultation meeting on 22 February 1999 in New Delhi, to discuss inter-State problems with regard to weights and measures. On behalf of FEDCOT Prof. S. Peer Mohamed participated in it. In the two meetings held on 15 May 1999 and 25 September 1999 it was decided to celebrate the World Standards Day in a grand manner on 14 October every year. In order to prevent consumers from falling a prey to advertisements during festivals and to create consumer awareness against unfair trade practices about 1,05,000 handbills and 3,000 wall-posters were prepared and distributed through district co-ordinators. As a result of this Government and Police Department have banned various advertisements and discount sales.

AGMARK awareness camp

FEDCOT and Tamil Nadu Government Marketing Department jointly organised an AGMARK awareness camp in Salem on 15 and 16 November 1999. On the first day, simple demonstration was given to find out food adulteration in various parts of Salem City. An oratorical contest was held for students on the topic “How to stop food adulteration”. Prof. Pirai Arivazhagan, FEDCOT General Secretary, FEDCOT, distributed prizes to the winners of this contest. In the year 2000-2001 this directorate organised an intensive training camp in Neyveli for members. The focus of the first stage of the training was on the following: Ø To take steps to ban discount sales Ø To stop the sale of adulterated petrol and Ø To take steps to establish AGMARK testing laboratory in all the districts of Tamil Nadu. The second stage of the training was held in Chennai as a joint seminar of all the organisations of FEDCOT. This seminar took up for discussion the following items: Ø Advertisements for sale Ø Free gifts for products It was decided that all campaigns and actions would focus on the above two points this year. All the members of this directorate took a vow that they would not drink cool drinks prepared by multi-national corporations. The third stage of the training was held in Cuddalore. Mr. Karthik, Zonal Manager of Indian Oil Corporation, Mr. Shanmugam, Director of AGMARK and Mr. Anavaradhan, trade union representative participated and gave suggestions for formulating the action plan. It was decided to protest against the obscene advertisements in TV and newspapers and to study the impact of these offensive ads on society. Further, it was also decided to study the quality of the food served in roadside restaurants. On the basis of the findings of this study, public interest litigation would be filed. This directorate in co-ordination with the Bureau of Indian Standards took steps to create consumer awareness about quality certification. The message was planned to reach consumer groups, public and the representatives of trading organisations. This directorate was successful in making the quality certification mandatory for drinking water sachets. For the members of the directorate of Standards a five–day training camp was organised in Kanyakumari from 26 to 30 July 2001. Mr. R. Paulraj, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Government Transport Corporation, inaugurated the training. All the speakers focused on standard and quality in products and its various dimensions. The committee meeting of this directorate was held in Salem Junior Chamber. Mr. Kalyanam, General Manager of the Indian Oil Corporation, participated in the meeting and gave valuable suggestions on cooking gas meant to create consumer awareness. This directorate conducted a field research on the quality of various products bought by the public and published a full report on it in the form of a book. It was a milestone in the history of FEDCOT. Tamil Nadu Government’s attention was drawn to the steps to be taken to create consumer awareness about ISI and AGMARK on products in urban and rural areas. ‘World Consumers Day 2001’ and ‘World Standards Day’ on October 14 were celebrated in a grand manner. Efforts were made to create consumer rights awareness.

Compulsory quality certification for mineral water and ISO 9002, for gold.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and FEDCOT jointly organised in Villupuram a seminar on “Indian Standards Institution and Consumers”. Mr. M.S. Nagarajan, General Manager BIS Southern Region and Mr. Anbarasu, Director, participated in the seminar and emphasised the need for consumer awareness about quality certification. Mr. Nagarajan spoke about the procedure to get ISI certification for mineral water bottles and sachets and ISO 9002 for gold. He highlighted the advantages of quality certification to the public. More than 150 volunteers participated and benefited from this seminar.

FEDCOT and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

BIS and FEDCOT jointly organised seminars in Nagercoil, Madurai, Tiruchy, Cuddalore, Tiruvarur, Tiruvallur and Salem. The theme of all the seminars was “BIS and Consumers”. FEDCOT management committee members, representatives of consumer groups, district co-ordinators, district women co-ordinators, directors of different directorates and experts from BIS participated in the seminars. The role of consumers in providing good quality food and quality improvement and quality checking was emphasised in these seminars.

Campaign against unhygienic mineral water

In order to identify the organisations selling unhygiene mineral water a campaign to collect samples of the packaged water sold was undertaken on 28 February 2003. Samples thus collected were sent to King Institute, Chennai on 6 March 2003 for testing after paying the required fees. The results of the tests were compiled and a report was sent to the Government. Research findings showed the lack of ISI certification and date expired water bottles on sale. 20,000 handbills were distributed to the public at the end of the campaign asking them to be cautions about spurious mineral water available in the market.

Highway restaurants food quality---fieldwork and campaign

To bring to light the defects in highway restaurants a fieldwork was undertaken throughout the Chennai–Madurai National Highway. Information was gathered on the following matters : - Surroundings of the restaurant - Hygiene - Adulteration - Price - Quality of foodstuffs Information thus gathered was compiled as a report and sent to the authorities concerned. 20,000 handbills announcing the health problems associated with eating in Highway restaurants were distributed to the public.

Intensive Training

A three-day intensive training was organised for the members of this directorate on 13, 14 and 15 September 2002 at Neyveli Lignite Corporation’s Training Centre. Mr.M.Nizamudden, General Secretary, FEDCOT, inaugurated the training session. Mr. A. Ashokan, Vice Chairman, FEDCOT, spoke on unfair trade practices and the methods to file complaints in the court. Mr. K. Shanmugam of the Agriculture Department gave training with regard to the necessity of AGMARK certification in food products and in discovery of adulteration in foodstuffs. Mr. A. Rengarajan, Director, BIS explained the methods to certify purity of gold and the continuous watch required thereafter to test it. Experts were invited to give lectures on quality, ISI mark and related topics. The table below gives the names of the experts and the topics on which they spoke. Name and Organisation Topic of Lecture Mr. Gandhidasan, Deputy Manager, Indian Oil Corporation’s Cooking gas department “Sale and distribution of cooking gas and safety methods”. Mr. J. Saibaba, King Institute, Chennai. “Laws relating to food quality and standard marks, on food items”. Mr. Anavaradhan, trade union leader “Rules and regulations in Indian insurance”. Mr. P. Saravanan, Joint Secretary, FEDCOT. “Quality in advertisements” Prof. Victor Louis, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchy. “The impact of globalisation privatisation, liberalisation on Indian trade and commerce and on quality of services”. Prof. S. Peer Mohamed, director, training directorate FEDCOT. The Codex Alimentarius and its implementation in India”. This directorate self-evaluation and campaign meeting was held On 28 and 29 March 2003 at Villupuram. Members shared their experiences with others in this meeting.

DIRECTORATE OF ENVIRONMENT

Human life cannot exist in isolation. The life depends on the environment. The economic life and social and cultural activities of humankind are shaped by the environment. Conservation of environment and economic development should be the twin objectives of any society. There can be no conservation of the environment without the promise of development, even as there cannot be sustained development without the preservation of the environment. Economic growth results in larger income to the society and assures greater comforts and luxuries. But economic growth leads to poor supply of environmental quality. This is because economic growth leads to greater production, larger industrial outputs, population growth, urbanisation, congestion which deplete the available supply of clean air, water and healthy atmosphere. These are further contaminated by discharge of toxic effluents by industry. Copious discharge of effluents and waste load reduce the self-cleansing power of the water and atmosphere. As a result supply of clean air and pure water would get depleted and they become scarce and costly. All countries of the world are faced with this problem, whatever be the type of economies or kind of administration. Concerned about the increasing level of pollution, and to arrest the current trends in the environment indicated by shrinking forests, falling water tables and the changing climate FEDCOT took upon itself the responsibility of educating the consumers through its action-oriented plans and campaigns. The main objective of the directorate of environment is to protect the environment and livelihoods and to popularise people – central and environmentally benign schemes. The special committee on environmental affairs was functioning under the directorship of Mr. K. Kathiresan in the years 1995-1996. Pre-campaign programme on safe drinking water in Tamil Nadu was planned. The objectives of this programme were outlined as follows : Ø To study the prevailing drinking water situation in certain pockets of Tamil Nadu so as to launch a continuous campaign focusing on drinking water as a basic need and therefore a consumer rights question throughout the State. Ø To be able to link the question of the prevailing situation of availability of the drinking water schemes in the State to the priorities being fixed by the financial institutions funding the provision of safe and adequate drinking water in Tamil Nadu and also the programmes of the State Government. Ø To be able to provide citizens simple means of testing the quality of drinking water in their areas and equipping them with the exact means of initiating legal action against the authorities before the appropriate forums. Ø A pilot study was planned in the following places, namely, Ambur, Dindigul, Siruvanai, Karur, Sirkali, Dharmapuri, Paramakudi and Madurai City. The places have been selected under the following three categories: Ø The first category comprises places where there is adequate water but the water sources have become polluted. Ø Coming under the second category are towns with insufficient water for people to drink. Ø In third category are towns where water supply schemes are in existence and still the water that ultimately people get to drink is polluted since it is found mixed with sewage water. The people in these areas were trained by consumer councils to get their water tested and then to initiate legal action for safe and adequate drinking water in their areas. Based on this experience a State-level programme of action was carried out. A State-level workshop was planned which would bring together all governmental and non-governmental agencies involved in the provision of drinking water for the rural and urban populace of the State. Such a step was the first real move towards getting safe and adequate drinking water for the people of Tamil Nadu, especially the poor as their basic consumer right. The delegates in the context of the right to basic needs, began looking practically at all of our policies relating to the provision of drinking water and also the financial resources and allocations that were being made available from within and without. The workshop having reviewed the position of the existing policies, financial allocations and proposals decided to submit a memorandum to the Government of Tamil Nadu. It was decided to activate State-level and district-level environment councils to involve consumer activists in all discussions relating to the protection of the environment in their areas. FEDCOT is convinced that environmental concern can develop only when people get involved in the environmental issues that they face. The issues that were identified for the purpose are : Ø The environmental pollution in Karur caused by the dyeing units and the TNPL Ltd. Ø Pollution of the river Bhavani due to the industrial effluents discharged into it. Ø The construction of East Coast Road Phase II. Ø Proliferation of shrimp-farms in the east coast of Tamil Nadu. Ø The anti-DUPONT action in Gummudipoondi near Chennai. Ø The movement to protect non-cultivable land in Uthamapalayam Taluk of Madurai District.

Seminar on Environment

A seminar was held on 4 and 5 June 1996 in Karur with the theme “Protected and safe drinking water”. Dr. Edwin Chandrasekar, Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences of the Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirapalli and his team were the resource persons of this seminar. Mr.K. Kathiresan, director of the FEDCOT’s Environment directorate shared with the participants some of the important information received from the field-work done about drinking water. Mr.D.Jacob, District Collector of Karur in his valedictory address, mentioned that the district administration had planned to supply protected and safe drinking water to people on a war footing. Mr. Kathiresan during his tenure of office prepared a questionnaire on drinking water situation and sent to member councils to gather information. About 103 member councils supplied the necessary information asked in the questionnaire. Dr.Ramasubramaniam, who was a member of this committee, collated all the information. Unfortunately Mr.Kathiresan expired on 2 March 1998 before the findings could he published. Members and office-bearers of Cuddalore Consumer Protection Council went on a hunger strike on 15 November 1997 protesting against the discharge of industrial effluents by SIPCOT units into water course in the town. This directorate not only supported the hunger strike but sent a team to assess the extent of harmful effects of the effluents. FEDCOT is a member of the protest committee of the anti-shrimp farms and anti-East Coast Road construction projects. Mr. Nizamudeen took over as the director of the directorate of Environment. This directorate joined with Peoples Watch Tamil Nadu, coastal working committee and sterlite protest and sent a report to the Government on the adverse impact of the accident that took place in sterlite factory at Tuticorin. FEDCOT also participated in the protest march conducted in Chennai against sterlite factory. This directorate joined with the other voluntary agencies and created awareness among people about the adverse impact of leather factory that was proposed to be established in Vellore. FEDCOT trust member Dr.Muthu did a field-research on environmental pollution caused by leather factory. Environment directorate of FEDCOT was successful in preventing the establishment of a leather factory in Cuddalore. It is an achievement unparalleled in the history of consumer movement. Owing to the efforts of the directorate of Environment a computerised air-monitor -- a very expensive instrument-- was installed through the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to monitor the pollution created by the factories in the SIPCOT Industrial Complex at Cuddalore. This system works round the clock and helps to control pollution level. The directorate of environment arranged for a five-day intensive training for its members in which 30 members participated. It was planned to undertake a direct field survey of the Cuddalore SIPCOT chemical factory complex and report to the Government. Members were trained in the methods to tackle environment problems throughout Tamil Nadu. Seshasayee paper factory at Pallipalayam (Salem) and Ponni Sugars have been polluting the river Cauvery. A study of the pollution thus caused was undertaken. Members of this directorate did a study of the environmental hazards in Ooty and Kodaikanal. On the basis of this report steps are being taken to arrest the trend. On behalf of ‘CUTS’ organisation an eco-friendly refrigerator seminar was organised in Jaipur on 24 and 25 July 1999. FEDCOT’s Environment director participated in it. Refrigerators, air-conditioners, air-coolers and water–coolers now marketed are using CFC (man-made chloroflouro carbons) gas, which affects the ozone layer. Therefore the urgent necessity to use HFC in refrigerators was emphasised in the seminar. The production of CFC gas using refrigerators would be stopped in 2010. FEDCOT thus joins hands with the other international organisations in their protest against CFC gas. The seminar was useful to the participants inasmuch as it placed emphasis on the necessity and urgency to protect ozone layer and the adverse impact of ‘ozone hole’ caused by CFC and other gases. On 16 and 17 September 1998 a National Consultation on “Eco-friendly refrigerators-–Indian dimension”, was held in New Delhi. The consultation explained the harmful effects of CFC and the necessity to use hydrocarbon technology. A five-day intensive training was organised by this directorate from 2 to 6 July 1999. Several experts addressed the participants on the following topics : - Socio-economic and political culture in the current conditions - Dr. Victor Louis - Impact of liberalisation on economic growth - Dr. Prakash - Tourism and environment - Mrs. Sherli Kashan - Ocean resources and environment - Dr. A.S. Subramani - Environmental degradation and problems - Dr. V.N. Rayadu - Women and environment - Mrs. Lucy Xavier - Laws relating to environment - Mr. Mohan - Prawn–farms, sterlite, Ennore and Neyveli–Protests Mrs. Jesurathinam - Is environment problem consumers problem? Mr.L. Anthonysamy–Tamil Nadu Environment Council - Environment, human rights problems, gathering support, legal action and evidence -- Mr. Henry Tiphange On 6 July 1999 the valedictory function of the training camp, environment day and saplings distribution day were celebrated together. Saplings were given to high school students for planting. Mr. Sandeep Saxena, District Collector of Cuddalore gave away certificates to the trainees. For the year 2001-2002 members were elected for the directorate of environment. A three-stage training was organised for the members. First stage of the intensive training was held in Tiruchirapalli. Lectures were arranged on the following topics : - Environment and our awareness - Globalisation and environment - Alternative ways to remove wastes and legal procedure - Agriculture and environment - Environment and pollution control - Role of environment in society - Solution to the current environment problems The following experts and officials participated in the training and gave lectures and expert views on various matters concerning environment : - FEDCOT officials - Professors from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University - Reporters from the press - Environment thinkers - Tiruchy district women co-ordinators Trainees were given training manual, handbills and environment related awareness guides, etc. A Second stage of the training was held in Chennai on the campus of World University Service Centre. Lectures were given on the following topics. They are listed below : Ø Role of consumers in environment research -– Prof.P.R.Muralidharan, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai Ø Consumers, press and environmental protection – Mrs.Akila Dinakaran journalist Action plan was formulated on the following : Ø New amendments to laws relating to prevention of environment pollution by multi-national companies Ø Rainwater harvesting Ø To create awareness to protect groundwater Ø To create awareness about the harms of plastic use Ø ‘Grow more tress’ campaign and benefits of trees The third stage of the training was held in the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University premises where professors gave lectures on the following topics : - Natural farming in the present conditions - Consumer welfare and environment - Integrated waste management, and - Traditional medical practices It was planned to take up the following activities: Ø To prevent the establishment of factories which manufacture polythene bags. Ø To request the Government to control noise pollution. Ø To enlist the co-operation of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Womens’ self-help groups to start campaigning against environmental pollution. Ø To create awareness among people on rainwater harvesting, removal of waste water from homes, etc. Research students and professors of Manonmaniam University also participated in the programme. As part of the campaign against the plastic and polythene products, this directorate organised a set of activities in Kodaikanal on 6 October 2000 to protect the nature and environment. In the planning committee meeting held on 31 March 2001 at Wellington (Nilgiris) a request was placed before the Tamil Nadu Government to ban the use of polythene in local self-government jurisdictions. Several municipalities and corporations banned the use of polythene bags. The manufacturers got a stay order against this ban in Madras High Court. FEDCOT decided to file a case against this stay order in the court. The following resolutions were passed : - To substitute plastic cup by paper cup - To reduce the cost of paper cup (mixed with wax) from 60 paise per cup as plastic cup is sold at 15 paise. Government should subsidise the production cost of paper cup. - While FEDCOT appreciates the Indian Railways imposing ban on the use of plastic cups for serving tea and coffee it requests the railways to ban the use of polythene bags also. - In Chennai Manali area the environment is affected by the Manali Oil Refinery and other chemical factories. Life of people in that area is at stake as the basic issues of health and safety are in jeopardy. Hence a request was made to the Pollution Control Board, Tamil Nadu Government and Central Governments’ Environment Ministry to take immediate steps and protect people from the risk. Government of India’s Environment Ministry has legally banned the use of recycled polythene bags to pack foodstuffs and other things. FEDCOT asked for an amendment to the law to totally ban the manufacture of recycled polythene bags. The following resolutions were passed: - Schools were requested to start Eco-clubs and to undertake environment awareness campaigns - Service organisations should be used to campaign in schools and colleges. - Political parties are using plastic flags during election campaigns. FEDCOT requested the Election Commission to ban them. It also appealed to the political parties to give up the use of plastic flags. - Separate campaign would be undertaken to prevent river pollution. - Cases would be filed against those police officials who fail to implement the decision of the court against air pollution. - To see that all government hospitals and private hospitals implement the waste management. - A request was made to the government to ban quarrying in forest areas so as to protect the flora and fauna. - It was planned to study the environmental hazard caused by paper mills in Dindugal and mango fruit processing factories in Karimangalam area of Dharmapuri district to prevent the degradation of the environment. - A request was made to prevent the film industry from using chemical products in tourist spots. - A pilot study was done by this directorate on the impact of water sports on water sources. Research finding would be used to take action against the polluters. In the year 2002-2003 the directorate of environment concentrated on the ban on the use of plastic. An in-depth training in environment protection was organised on 26, 27 and 28 July 2002 in Rameswaram. Environmental experts were invited to give lectures to the members. FEDCOT Management Committee members also participated in the training and gave valuable points on the role of consumers in environment protection. The subjects discussed and resource persons are listed below.

Topic	Resource Person
Urgent need to save rainwater in the present conditions	A. Vijayarajan
Adverse impact of noise pollution on the environment	Mr. Murugavel Bhupathi
Environment pollution and present world condition	Dr. A. Arunachalam
The use of laws relating to environment	Mr. A. Ashokan
Methods to take environmental hazards to people’s knowledge	Mr. M. Senthil

The lectures cleared the doubts about the impact of pollution on environment and the methods to overcome them.

Campaign against use of plastic material in Rameswaram

An awareness campaign on plastic use and its dangerous impact on the environment was organised on 5 and 6 October 2002 in Rameswaram island. FEDCOT treasurer led the campaign. The campaign started in the morning with Government High School students participating in a large number. From Mahatma Gandhi statue a distance of one kilometer was covered meeting the residents, shopkeepers and general public on the way. Handbills on environment awareness were distributed to people enroute. NSS students helped the campaigners in distributing the leaflets in Thangachimatam area. When campaigning was going on in front of the Rameswaram temple the District Collector and the Commissioner of Hindu Religious Charitable Endowment visited the temple. Leaflets publicising the campaign were given to them also which they appreciated. From FEDCOT, its treasurer and director of the environment directorate and the office-bearers of consumer councils of Rameswaram, Thangachimatam, Tiruvadanai and Keelakarai participated on the second day of the campaign. This directorate’s campaign and evaluation meeting was held on 27 and 28 February 2003 at Rameswaram. In the meeting held, members of this directorate were divided into smaller groups and through them handbills containing information about the ban of plastic products were distributed in Rameswaram town, bus stand, temple complex and shopping area. Door-to-door campaigning was also done in residential areas. It was heartening to learn that plastic products had already been banned from the shopping area in Rameswaram. Members of consumer councils went to Dhanuskodi island and gave out the leaflets to the tourists there. In the evening Rameswaram Consumer Council members and members of this directorate together campaigned against the use of plastic objects. They spread the message in the streets and the masses caught on to the idea propounded by the campaigners. The finale of the campaign was the spectacular show presented by the cultural troupe from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. It performed drama and music to create consumer awareness among the people. The great enthusiasm shown by the members of consumer councils at all places and their total involvement in the campaign for a noble cause led to tremendous success of the whole programme.

DIRECTORATE OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNANCE

Villages, towns and cities are organised for self-government under panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations. Under the act, a self-government can sue and be sued. It has powers to collect taxes, to hold lands and to make bylaws and enforce by penalties, as long as they are reasonable and not violative of the act. Its activities include village/town-planning, water-works/water supply, roads, street lights, sewers, sanitation, garbage disposal, elementary education, small-holdings and public parks. Some municipal enterprises such as shopping complexes, parking lots or tourist homes fetch additional revenue. As rate payers, citizens have a right to see that the democratically elected self government provides them with all the facilities so that they can concentrate on their vocations without let or hindrance. Consumer organisations have to be watchful of the functioning of the self-government so as to rectify its lapses. It is precisely for this purpose that FEDCOT has a directorate of local self-government. A training camp was organised from 27 to 29 July 1996 in Gandhigram, Dindugal for those representative who were contesting elections to the local bodies. FEDCOT and LRSA, Chengalpattu, together organised this training. Mr. Manimaran, Mr.Rajendran and Mr. Nagendran of LRSA Chengalpattu were the resource persons. The following formed the core of discussion with the participants. Ø Panchayatiraj acts for the newly created local bodies. Ø The tasks before the leaders who would be eventually elected. The main thrust of the training was to help the participants to compete in the forthcoming elections. Mr. R. Desikan, Chairman FEDCOT inaugurated the training session and Mr. Henry Tiphange explained the objectives of the training. The planning committee meeting of this directorate