Indian consumer society loses global merit

Updated on: 18 April,2010 02:11 AM IST |
Bobby Anthony |

CGSI loses favour with CI for accepting corporate ads and sponsors

CGSI loses favour with CI for accepting corporate ads and sponsors

India's oldest consumer body, The Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI), is no longer part of Consumers International (CI), a global apex body to which consumer organisations the world over are affiliated. CI revoked CGSI's membership for accepting corporate advertisements and sponsorship.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

"This is a serious matter. The Committee's findings will now be referred to the CI Council for final action in June," says a letter written to CGSI by Joost Martens, CI Director General.

CGSI honorary secretary, DR MS Kamath, however, says CGSI chose to quit CI."CGSI owes Rs 7.83 lakh as rent to the PWD, which predecessors did not pay. We tried to raise funds by taking advertisements from PSUs for our official magazine, Keemat. Predecessors complained to CI, even though the money came from funds for corporate social responsibility. So, we decided to sever all ties with CI." He also accused CI of taking money from Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and Bill Gates Foundation under the excuse that it comes from trusts, "...though it comes from Ford Motors and Microsoft -- who are the biggest violators of consumer rights and also indulge in unfair and monopolistic practices".