RANGPO,: The Federation of Consumers Association of Sikkim (FCAS) in collaboration with the Majhitar Sporting Club and under the aegis of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Government of Sikkim, celebrated National Consumer Day at Majhitar, West Pendam Constituency, Pakyong District on Tuesday.
This year’s theme ‘Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers’ highlighted the significance of ethical and transparent AI usage in consumer interactions.
The event featured active participation from various stakeholders. Ashal Chettri, coordinator of FCAS, along with volunteers from the Majhitar Sporting Club, raised public awareness by distributing booklets and leaflets on consumer rights. Informative posters were also placed in local shops and homes to amplify the reach of the message.
Key speakers enriched the program with insightful discussions.
Srijana Kadka, vice president of FCAS, spoke about consumer rights and duties, emphasizing the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Nirnay Pradhan, lecturer (CSE) at ATTC Bardang, provided an in-depth perspective on the theme, ‘Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers,’ while Nishchal Roka, branch manager of Rangpo Citizens Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., elaborated on consumer rights within the banking sector.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Concerned Consumer Award 2024 to Chetan Sharma of Majhitar, in recognition of his exemplary commitment to making informed and ethical consumer choices. The program also acknowledged the significant contributions of Biswa Gurung, vice president of Majhitar Sporting Club, and Vivek Cintury, owner of Cintury Complex, for their ongoing support in promoting consumer empowerment.
The program, conducted by Amartya Raj Gurung, general secretary of FCAS, saw enthusiastic participation from local residents, 15 NGOs, churches, and sports associations from the Rangpo Nagar Panchayat area.
Chief guest Chopel Bhutia, BDO Duga, graced the occasion, along with other distinguished guests, including Sanju Mangar, councillor of Rangpo Nagar Panchayat; Rajendra Gupta, Superintendent Engineer, department of Power & Energy; Sagar Subba, PI Rangpo; and Kenzong Bhutia, inspector cum in-charge of Rangpo Food Office.
FCAS president Suresh K. Lama expressed heartfelt gratitude to all participants for their collaboration and enthusiasm. He reiterated FCAS’s commitment to advocating for consumer rights and empowering individuals to make informed choices.
National Consumer Day serves as a powerful reminder of the need for consumer awareness in fostering ethical practices and promoting responsible consumption, especially in the evolving era of AI-driven technologies. The event successfully emphasized the critical role of informed consumers in building a fair and equitable marketplace.