‘Amendments such as removing service charge will revolutionise consumer act’

Ram Vilas Paswan, Union minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, says that proposed amendments in the Consumer Protection Act will bring a revolution in terms of consumer rights. He says in an interview to that the government plans to abolish mandatory service charge, ensure the mention of food portions served in big hotels and adherence to MRP. Excerpts: hue and cry over the concern that requires hoteliers to mention the quantity of the food they are serving. We are not asking them to explain how much food they are wasting.

Again, nowhere in the world, service charge is compulsory; it is left to the discretion of the consumer who offers tips to the waiters if he/ she enjoys the food and services. It is unfair to ask 5-20% service charges over and above the price. MRP is maximum and not minimum retail price. A water bottle should be sold at a uniform price all over, across all platforms. It is unfair to charge differently inside and outside cinema halls, hotels or planes. and the name of the manufacturer. At present, it’s so small that it’s difficult to read. On packed food and electronics products including water bottles. We have been able to plug food leakage at the Food Corporation of India go-downs by installing CCTV cameras, bringing depots online, etc. It’s down to 0.04%. The wastage of grains doesn’t happen any more in FCI warehouses. There is another project we are pushing for: instead of bringing the produce to the warehouse after procurement, we can send it directly to states. It will save transportation and warehousing cost. But it’s still under discussion.

Again, nowhere in the world, service charge is compulsory; it is left to the discretion of the consumer who offers tips to the waiters if he/she enjoys the food and services. It is unfair to ask 520% service charges over and above the price