Core Centre

Consumer Coordination Council (CCC) was established in March 1993 as a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. Before taking the present shape, a group of consumer activists representing various Consumer Organizations gathered (in April 1992) to work as one body, to raise one voice on issues related to consumer interests and various Government policies and programmes affecting the interest of the Consumers. CCC has been actively involved in various consumer-related projects and programmes funded by UNICEF, UNDP, Ford Foundation, Consumer Welfare Fund and other funding agencies as also grants from various Ministries of Govt. of India such as MNES, MOH&FW, MOFPI, Department of AR & PG etc for specific projects. Earlier CCC had a long-term partnership with a German Foundation called Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (FNST), which helped in establishing the organization and provided full support for its programmes including infra-structural expenditure till 31st March 2002. From 1st April 2002 onward CCC is being managed entirely by such project-related funds. By now CCC has completed a decade of service to the consumers of the country in general and its Member Consumer Organisations in particular.

CCC presently has a membership reach of over 72 leading Consumer Organizations, spread over different parts of the country, which are, or have been members of the Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC), set up under the Consumer Protection Act. It may also be added that many more Consumer Organisations including some new Members of CCPC have applied for Membership of CCC. These are under process. Its Governing Council of 12 Members consists of well-known consumer activists belonging to established Consumer Organisations of long standing.

Our Vision

Our Mission

To be an effective national coalition of consumer protection groups so as to provide thrust to common issues affecting consumers.

Aims & Objectives

· Influencing policies, legislation and administrative framework towards promoting consumer interests.

· Empowering consumer protection groups to work towards strengthening the civil society in the democratic system of the country.

One of the major concerns of CCC has been Good Governance. CCC had accordingly launched a National Campaign on Citizens’ Charter in July 1996 for implementing the principles of Transparency, Accountability, Standards of Service, Availability of Information and an Effective Grievance Redressal System in Public Service and has been continuing its pioneering work in this direction. In the process, CCC has been involved both in the drawing up of appropriate Citizens’ Charters for various organizations, as also in the evaluation of their implementation in the Health, Telecom, Railways, Insurance & Banking Sectors.

Based on its own experience of over a decade and the experience of its Member Organisations, CCC is strongly of the view that significant, sustainable and measurable achievement of its vision, mission and aims and objectives as indicated above, is possible only through an Institutional approach and not by mere funding of individual and sporadic stand alone projects.

The CORE Centre has been set up with assistance by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, to provide a most scientific and effective system of collection and dissemination of consumer related information.

Development of National Information gathering mechanisms on Consumer related issues.
Dissemination of information on important Consumer Issues.
Establishing a Research and Documentation Centre ( highlighting the work of partner members) on various consumer issues.
Providing Information and Analysis of Consumer related Laws and Judgments.
To provide Online Support and pursue Consumer Complaints.

CORE Centre would, interalia, comprise consumers of Goods & Services, Consumer Organizations, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Manufactures and Traders, Academicians, Practicing Advocates, Law Students, Para-legal working on various projects nationwide and also the various Ministries and Departments as well as Public Sector understandings, Regulatory Authorities and standards setting bodies.

The fundamental principle on which the project is founded is based on the premise that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be effectively used for:

Business and Professionals (especially Doctors, Stockbrokers, Insurance and Travel agents) often feel the need to have easy access to consumer law specific information is domains where they practice or operate. This has meant that they are constantly looking for a single resource which, while providing comprehensive access to content, would also provide initiative and dynamic knowledge to the user, based on the inter-relationships of the content, the type of document and the source of information.

A comprehensive National Resource Centre on Consumer issues would also take care of the research and information needs of parliamentarians, bureaucrats, scholars, academics and students. A comprehensive repository of information on Consumer welfare categorized and tagged in XML would bring about the versatility required for a database in a Resource Centre. The Resource Centre would only be accessible by paid subscribers.

CCC proposes the creation of an online database/ portal on consumer issues, as it believes that this would also significantly reduce the learning curve of consumers, activists and professionals working in the field. This is vital since often the paralegals; activists and the staff of partner agencies have neither the time nor the resources to keep themselves updated on the latest developments in their area of work and interest. The access to the online portal would be free.

An external, independent newsletter service ensures that the detailed information in the National Resource Centre and the Online Database are circulated to stakeholders in a regular, steady and comprehensive manner. If the newsletters are dispatched in electronic format, apart from the reduced costs, benefits of personalization is possible and will ensure that only focused and important information is dispatched to the subscribers as per the subscribers requirement.

(iv) Network between Consumer Organizations, Consumer Information Centers, Government & Non-Government Organizations

The CORE Centre would also serve as a network between Consumer Organizations, Consumer Information Centers, Government and Non-Government Organizations to ensure that an information flow is created for the benefit of the ultimate beneficiaries, i.e. the Consumers. The CORE Centre would make use of the latest ICT tools to also ensure that these organizations can exchange information on various consumer related issues and can keep abreast of any developments taking place in any part of the country.

Creation of an Online Complaint Registration and Mediation Mechanism will ensure that the consumers can report their grievances online and experts in the field can advise them and channelise their complaints to a proper authority, for quick and effective disposal. The CORE Centre would also seek to provide redressal by directly taking up issues with manufacturers, or the providers of goods and service or other Government agencies and organizations

CCC is presently funded by various funding organizations for specific projects, which are generally not an ongoing activity spread over a period of time, or on a continuing basis. This lack of assured funds has resulted in an adhoc and piecemeal approach, which has not enabled CCC to develop an institutional approach and build up an infrastructure that is capable of becoming self-reliant over a period of time. Only such a self-reliant institutional structure can demonstrate sustained growth and measurable outputs.

(The ‘CORE’ Centre Project, therefore, envisages a total one-time grant of Rs.3.5 crores, spread over a period of five years, so that as a well established institution with proper infrastructure, CCC can plan its short term and long term activities in such a way, as to gradually generate sufficient income for its sustenance and be in a position to earn a substantial portion of its running cost by the end of five years.)

Membership
Membership of the Society shall be open to registered organisations, which are or have been members of the Central Consumer Protection Council established under the Consumer Protection Act at the Centre and any other organisation specially invited by the Governing Council for taking such membership.

Provided that the society may admit other registered organisations as affiliate members with no voting rights. ‘Affiliate members’ will not participate in the management of the society, they will not be eligible to stand for elections or participate in the decision making in the general body or any committees where only ‘members’ can take decisions and vote in terms of these rules and regulations.

Membership fee for Full Members : Rs 1500 per annum

Membership fee for Affiliate Members : Rs 500 per annum



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