Proceedings - Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department

that the mandatory certification act is under consideration in Government ofIndia.A VCO representative interacted with the BIS authority whether they gavegot field officials to monitor the jewelers pertaining to hallmarking, for whichT.B.Narayanan, (Southern Region), Regional Hallmarking Coordinator, Bureau ofIndian Standards replied that they have got regular mechanism to inspect thejewelers.When a consumer suggested that ‘wastage’ which is levied by thejewelers can be avoided, Thiru Jahufar, Madras Jewelers Diamond Association,replied that charging for ‘wastage’ is inevitable since they will be loosing someamount of gold at the time of preparing any ornaments and it may vary accordingto the pattern, size and weight of that particular ornament. He further added thatif the quality of the gold is lesser than the caratage certified they can evenrepresent their issue to Jewellers Association. He added that consumers shouldalso be alert while purchasing gold by ensuring the quality of it from a qualityjeweler.Session IIGovernment regulations and scheme of hallmarkingTmt. Nirmala Desikan, Consumer Association of India, Chennai, ThiruT.B.Narayanan, (Southern Region), Regional Hallmarking Coordinator, Bureau ofIndian Standards, Thiru James Jose, Secretary, Indian Association ofHallmarking Centres, Thiru Jahufar, Madras Jewelers Diamond Association, andThiru C.Paul Barnabas, state Vice President, Tamil Nadu Consumer ProtectionOrganisation participated in the second session.In this session, Tmt. Nirmala Desikan, Consumer Association of India,Chennai stressed the importance of obtaining bill for anything and everythingpurchased by the consumers and further added that this is the basic record to filea case in Consumer Courts whereas most of the consumers are reluctant toobtain the bills and this attitude should be changed.

Thiru T.B.Narayanan, (Southern Region), Regional HallmarkingCoordinator, Bureau of Indian Standards informed that any gold ornament maybe tested by the consumers in assaying centers if they suspect the quality ofgold.Thiru C.Paul Barnabas, state Vice President, Tamil Nadu ConsumerProtection Organisation requested that the activities of Bureau of IndianStandards should reach all the common public.Summing up of the seminarAfter these sessions, Tmt.J.Vijayathilagam, Assistant, ConsumerProtection Section, O/O the Commissioner of Civil Supplies and ConsumerProtection Department presented the summing up of the seminar and thefollowing recommendations were made.Recommendations of the Seminar‣ The Hallmarking system of Bureau of Indian Standards has to be madecompulsory for all traders of gold by bringing the Hallmarking into themandatory certification list of Bureau of Indian Standards,‣ The Bureau of Indian Standards may provide wide publicity through mediaregarding the raids conducted, details of unfair and unethical tradersidentified, etc. So that common consumer will be able to identify genuinetraders in the market‣ The system of charging ‘wastage’, ‘making charges’, etc.,. need to berationalized by providing specific parameters.‣ There should be proper education of the consumers through Bureau ofIndian Standards regarding gold ornaments purchased with preciousstones, ie. the exact weight of the stone has to be reduced from theoverall weight of the ornament while the cost of stones is chargedseparately.

‣ The licensing system of Bureau of Indian Standards for Hallmarking has tobe simplified and the deposit required for obtaining Hallmarking licenseshould be reduced.‣ More number of Assaying Centres should be established to have easyaccess for the dealers as well as to the consumers.‣ While affixing Hallmarking with five components over the gold jeweler theactual weight of the ornament should also be affixed.Vote of ThanksAfter the summing of the seminar, Thiru S.Vijayan, AssistantCommissioner and Consumer Protection Officer, Saidapet zone proposed vote ofthanks and the seminar came to a close with National Anthem.