Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Tuesday that he had also fallen victim to chit-fund scams twice in 1990 and 2002.
Addressing a gathering at the state-level programme on the occasion of National Consumer Rights Day, CM Majhi said, "I also fell victim to chit fund scam twice. I got cheated by two financial agencies, including a government one, in 1990 and 2002."
He also mentioned that he lost all his investment as he later came to know the firm was a fake one.
CM Majhi also added that he appealed to the then government-but failed to get back his money due to complex and lengthy process.
Lakhs of investors in Odisha had lost all their savings in connection with the Chit Fund scam.
The Chief Minister, while delivering his speech stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government after meeting all the stakeholders brought in a new Consumer Protection Act, 2019 that covered all loopholes which had existed in the earlier Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
He mentioned that India is an 'over legislated country but lesser implemented nation'.
He observed that consumers often failed to get justice due to lengthy and complicated legal process.
He underlined the enforcement of laws in letter and spirit to provide justice to the consumers without much botheration.
The Chief Minister elaborated various advantages of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, compared to the earlier act.
CM Majhi also threw light on the increasing incidents of cybercrime in the state.
He said that the state government is making all efforts to spread awareness among consumers regarding their rights.
The Chief Minister asked the state Consumer Welfare Department to increase the checking activities against the cheating elements among traders.
Addressing media persons, the Minister of the state Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Krushna Chandra Patra, said several departments lost their functionality in the last 24 years of the previous BJD government.
The department is reeling under severe staff crunch. The traders engaged in illegal activities have no fear of the department, Patra said.
He assured that sufficient staff will be provided and consumer forums at different levels will be revamped soon
Patra also said that the showcause notice has been issued to 371 petrol pumps that were found involved in cheating.
National Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 24 to mark the day when the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted.
This year, Consumer Day is being celebrated with the theme, "Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice".
The theme is about the new provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which seeks to provide speedy, cost-effective and hassle-free justice to consumers through online mode.
It was to indicate how important digital media and tools are in making sure consumers can access justice in the increasingly online world.
