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.
