MxMIndia

Tag: Times of India

  • Citizens will need to abdicate their rights regarding small claims, opines Jehangir B Gai

    Why the new Consumer Protection Act is a Death Knell of Consumer Rights

     

    By Jehangir B Gai

     

    No matter how attractive or appealing something may look on paper, it is of no use whatsoever if it does not achieve its objective, and worse when it actually harms the very cause it is supposed to espouse. This is the case with the Consumer Protection Act 2019 which comes into effect from today, repealing the earlier enactment of 1986.

     

    Let us look at the existing scenario. The District Consumer Forum which till now had a pecuniary limit of Rs 20 lakhs, are mostly located in premises which are too small, especially in urban areas where the filing of cases is more and there is a scarcity of adequate space. Consequently, files are spilling over even in corridors, and there is hardly any place for movement. The Forum is manned by just one or maximum two clerks, who find it difficult to cope with the existing work load of accepting complaints, scrutinising them, preparing and despatching notices, accepting of deposits and investing the money during the pendency of appeals, issuing certified copies of orders, etc.

     

    Similarly, there is also a dearth of stenographers, and there is just one stenographer who has to sit on the dais during court hours to take dictation of daily proceedings of each case (known as the case roznama), and thereafter take dictation of judgments from the Presiding Officer as well as two members, Imagine the plight when there is just one steno between three persons. Consequently, judgments are invariably delayed, sometime by two to six months. Besides, when the steno proceeds on leave due to an illness or for some family occasion, the work of the forum comes to a grinding halt.

     

    This has resulted in a huge backlog of over 5.5 lakh cases at the District level. Hence even though the Act stipulates for cases to be decided within three months, or within five months if laboratory testing is required, the reality is that it take anything between four to ten years, and sometimes even longer for a consumer complaint to be decided, especially in urban cities.

     

    In this backdrop, imaging what will be the plight with a five-fold increase in the pecuniary jurisdiction. A case will now take anything from 15 to 25 years to get decided! Can a consumer who finds her/his fridge or television not working wait for such a long period for the case to get decided? Definitely not. The delays will lead to frustration, denial of justice, and consequently consumers will prefer to abandon their rights rather than fight for them. The new Act will thus be counter-productive and serve as a deterrent to the filing of consumer disputes, which in turn will be a boon to manufacturers, traders and service providers. Thus, under the garb of protecting the consumer, the Act will in fact subserve the interest of industrialists.

     

    When the original Consumer Protection Act was legislated in 1986, the procedure for enforcement of orders was the same method of application to execution of decrees of civil courts. This required the filing of a separate application before the Civil Court for attachment of property by the bailiff, publishing of newspaper advertisement for auction of property, etc. making it a tedious as well as costly procedure, and often not worthwhile for realising a paltry sum of compensation. In view of this experience, the Act was amended in 2003 to make recovery proceeding simpler by adopting the procedure laid down  for recovery of arrears of land revenue by the collector or other competent authority.

     

    The new procedure was very convenient and working well without putting the consumer to any further expense. Surprisingly, this procedure has been given the go-by and the old costly, tedious and time-consumer procedure of having to approach the civil courts for enforcement of orders has once again been made applicable to the proceedings under the new Consumer Protection Act.

     

    Since it was foreseeable that the new Consumer Protection Act would result in tremendous delays in securing justice, the Act provides for mediation. While mediation cannot be of much help in complaints pertaining to defective goods or services, it would be helpful in resolving cases where there are high claims for compensation such those dealing with medical negligence. Yet, extremely surprisingly, matters relating to proceedings in respect of medical negligence resulting in grievous injury or death cannot be referred to mediation as there is an express prohibition to do so.

    Besides, a consumer normally knocks on the doors of the consumer disputes redressal agencies only when all attempts to resolve a grievance have failed, so attempting a mediation is not likely to be effective, but will cause a further delay in proceedings. In fact, even under the Act of 1986, the consumer disputes redressal agencies had attempted mediation and settlement of disputes through Lok Adalats, but this was abandoned when it was found to be an exercise in futility, especially when about 80 per cent of the cases were against insurance companies whose officials did not even bother to attend the Lok Adalat, possibly due to the apprehension that there would be a CBI inquiry against an official for settling a claim which had previously been rejected. So mediation is not likely to be of much help, and the consumer would not be compensated for the harassment meted out to him.

     

    Conclusion:

    Considering the practical aspects of the capability of the members sitting in adjudication, the space constraints, the lack of manpower and other limitations, the new Consumer Protection Act will spell the death knell of the consumer movement and result in consumers abdicating their rights rather than go through with litigation for years together for grievances relating to small claims in respect of consumer durables and services.

    If the Act is to be implemented in its true letter and spirit, the government must set up more than one consumer disputes redressal tribunal in each district depending upon the workload so that cases get decided within the time-frame stipulated under the Act. Moreover, the government must also appoint competent persons for adjudicating consumer disputes, provide adequate space and accommodation, and sufficient staff and manpower to cope with the increased workload. Unless this is done, the consumer movement will be doomed to a disastrous failure.

     

    The author is an awardwinning consumer activist and a columnist with various publications including The Times of India and Business Standard. He has received the Government of India’s National Youth Award for Consumer Protection. His views here are personal. He can be reached jehangir.gai.columnist@outlook.in

  • … but what about Times Now, a regular purveyor of both hate speech and fake news, asks Ranjona Banerji

    When Times of India boss Vineet Jain damns Facebook on hate speech & fake news…

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Vineet Jain, managing director of Bennett, Coleman and Company, set off an interesting discussion on Twitter the other day. Bennett, Coleman is the owner of The Times of India and Times Now amongst a large array of newspapers and television channels. India’s largest media conglomerate is how the company is often described. Jain is the MD and part of the family which owns the group.

    Jain tweeted this, about ongoing discussions about Facebook, and advertisers applying pressure on Mark Zuckerberg’s social media platform to eliminate hate speech and fake news: “Social media has become the cause of violence, hate & fake news. Govts globally have been lazy & have failed to control them. Advertisers r walking away from social media forcing them to review policies on violent content. Biz men are doing Govts job in making the world better.”

     

     

    Jain went on to post a link to a Times of India article on the issue, and also tweeted this: “Unilever #Honda #coke among many other corporates have stopped advertising on social media because of poor policies & insignificant moderation regarding hate speech.”

    O the irony, the irony. Jain’s “news” channel Times Now is a regular purveyor of both hate speech and fake news, and has substantially helped to destroy the reputation of the venerable Old Lady of Bori Bunder, The Times of India, the group’s flagship publication.

    I can hear the scoffing. Because much of the destruction of the credibility of the Indian media is thanks to TOI. You could start with the hegemony of Response over editorial, the appointment of “brand managers” to oversee the hegemony, the introduction of Medianet where the company itself sold editorial space to advertisers and so on.

    But for all its many faults, there were many things – and still are – that are right with the Times of India. I myself have benefitted from a management that did not interfere and indeed supported us when we reported on the 2002 Gujarat riots from Gujarat, as I have mentioned many times before. And this is despite huge pressure from the Response section to get us to stop taking on Narendra Modi’s culpability as chief minister of Gujarat. I quit TOI just as Medianet began, so perhaps I did not see the worst of it.

    However, what Times Now does is far worse than anything that any print publication within Vineet Jain’s empire can conjure up. A non-stop barrage of anti-Muslim debates, a distinct pro-Hindu slant to what passes for news and for discussions, rabid anchors in Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar, an absolute inability to question the Narendra Modi government at the Centre on anything, an endless blame game against the Opposition. It is essentially a propaganda channel for the Modi government, the BJP and the RSS.

    Here’s one small example of its behaviour. A recent poll run by the channel on how Modi had handled the ongoing China crisis had 60.2 per cent of the people saying it was handled badly and 39.8 per cent voting Modi handled it well. Times Now put up a pie chart where the 39.8 per cent was bigger than the 60.2 per cent. This ran until it was trolled on social media. I know there are many kind souls who will want to give them the benefit of the doubt but anyone who has followed the channel knows it was deliberate.

    Mr Jain might perhaps want to rephrase his observations about hate, violence and fake news being seen on social media alone. He might perhaps want to steel himself to watch his own toxic channel. The second tweet in his thread is particularly interesting because it comes to the conclusion, in the Facebook case, that it is business which does the government’s job by withholding advertising from FB and making it change its ways.

    Is this a message to Indian businesses to stop advertising with Times Now? I joke of course, but think about it. Perhaps a withholding of money is the only way that the company will consider getting Times Now to become a news channel rather than a purveyor of filth and fakery.

    It is unlikely that Jain wants government interference. The Newspapers Owners Association of India fight off any sort of government interference because it might interfere with their ownership patterns, not because they care about freedom of expression or a free press. The Association also fights against the Wage Board Commissions which work on fair-ish wages for badly paid newspaper employees.

    Or, is something strange brewing???

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She is also Consulting Editor, MxMIndia. Her views here are personal

     

     

  • The campaign created by Wunderman Thompson India captures the need for empowering senior citizens to live happy in the new-normal with social distancing norms

    ‘Reverse Parenting’ is the need of the hour, says TOI campaign on Father’s Day

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Times of India is doing a content series under ‘Unlocking Diaries’ that chronicles how different sectors are opening up post the lockdown.

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Sanjeev Bhargava, Director, Brand, TOI, commented, “As the world comes to terms with the new-normal, the older generations will find it increasingly alien and the younger ones will find ways to adapt. In this scenario, it become incumbent upon the younger generations to help their elders acclimatize to the new reality. This Father’s Day, TOI recognises this shift and helps create awareness for this new dynamic in old parent-child relationship.”

     

    Talking about the video, Joy Chauhan, Senior Vice President & Managing Partner, Wunderman Thompson, Gurgaon, added: “Curating such a thought-driven and purpose-led campaign for an iconic brand like TOI reaffirms the faith that we have in them towards making a difference to society. Our long-standing association with them has seen us contribute our creativity towards the cause in creating a host of impactful and compelling initiatives. Coupled with a sense of urgency in these testing times, the concept of #ReverseParenting film was one that needed to reach out to the audience at the very earliest. It drives forward the message and reiterates the fact that it is now time for the children to help their father ease into the new normal. Having made such a telling campaign, we look to make more of the same for them in the near future.”

     

     

  • 290 million eligible voters were unable to exercise their right to vote, due to migration

    TOI’s ‘Lost Vote’ campaign propels EC to finally act

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Times of India had launched its largest-ever collective campaign, Lost Votes, aimed at getting the right for voting for those who have moved away from the address where their vote is registered. Drawing nation-wide attention, the publication with each step in the campaign parsed awareness to millions of migrated voters and concerned citizens on the importance of casting their vote and urgency of addressing the gap.

     

    As per the insights gained during the campaign roll-out, 290 million eligible voters were unable to exercise their right to vote, due to migration without a permanent local address. TOI launched th Lost Votes campaign, urging the Election Commission to find an effective, immediate and permanent solution. Following the year-long campaign, the Election Commission recently announced that they are working on a technology-led solution that will address the issue so that there are no more lost votes.

     

    Speaking about the impact of the campaign, Sanjeev Bhargava, Director The Times of India said: “We launched the Lost Votes campaign last year. Powerful and simple thought: people temporarily not living in the place where their vote is registered are unable to vote. And the number of such eligible voters is close to 30 crore. This campaign demanded tech solutions to enable these lost votes and give back the fundamental right to these citizens of India. More than a million-people pledged support to this campaign. And less than a year later the election commissioner has announced the start of this journey. We are proud to be instrumental to the strengthening of our democracy!! Not surprisingly at TOI we say: “Change Begins Here”.

     

     

  • The website was launched on February 17 with columns by Ranjona Banerji, senior journalist and columnist (and MxMIndia Consulting Editor); Tushar Gandhi, activist and great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Engineer himself

    Ex-journo Ashraf Engineer launches AllIndiansMatter.in

    By A Correspondent

     

    He’s moved from journalism to communications strategy, but writing and matters of national interest have always been dear to him. Ashraf Engineer, former journalist with Hindustan Times, Times of India, Mid-Day, Maharashtra Herald and also an author and currently Principal Consultant at Pitchfork Partners, has launched a digital platform for commentary, called Allindiansmatter.in, on issues that matter to India. It is a “home for conversations with and about the country,” he said.

     

    The website was launched on February 17 with columns by Ranjona Banerji, senior journalist and columnist (and MxMIndia Consulting Editor); Tushar Gandhi, activist and great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Engineer himself.

     

    Banerji wries about what happens when the media abdicate their responsibility. Gandhi has kicked off a three-part series on the India of the Mahatma’s dreams. Engineer, meanwhile, argues that India is rediscovering itself through the Shaheen Bagh protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

     

    Added Engineer: “All Indians Matter is a citizen’s effort to engage – through commentary by a variety of writers on a wide range of issues – with everyone who cares about India, its Constitution, its liberal and secular values. It is a response to the political, social and economic situations we find ourselves in. Normally, it would be the domain of the news media, but it’s been found wanting in the past few years. As a result, many of the issues that should be highlighted are sidelined and the voices that should find a megaphone are muffled. Allindiansmatter.in is a simple, clutter-free website that shines the spotlight on the commentary, cutting out complex navigation, multiple sections and visual dazzle. The writing is what it’s all about, and that’s the way it’ll stay even if it evolves into something bigger.”

     

    He added that the initiative is personal one. The website finds an extension on Twitter (@allindianscount), Facebook and Instagram (@allIndiansmatter).

     

     

  • The initiative will feature the finest minds in the world of marketing come together to discuss the future of marketing

    Second edition of ‘Star Flow’ to be held in New Delhi

    By A Correspondent

     

    We aren’t invited for it, but the line-up looks interesting and has been very heavily promoted by The Times of India group publications. The second edition of Flow – The Change Festival is scheduled to be held on February 19 and 20 in Gurgaon.

     

    Sanjeev Bhargava

    Said Sanjeev Bhargava, Director – The Times of India, TIMS and Mirror Brands and Co-Curator of Flow: “Flow – The Change Festival is a unique initiative that brings cutting edge marketing theories, practices, trends and technologies to marketing leaders and practitioners alike. The speakers and panellists have been carefully curated to deliver the highest value for the time the marketing fraternity chooses to spend at this festival. Last year, this event was extremely successful going by the feedback of the delegates. We hope to make this edition even bigger and better.”

     

    Santosh Desai

    Added Santosh Desai, MD and CEO FutureBrands India and also Co-Curator of the event: “The overall intent of The Flow Festival is to make sense of all the change that we see around us with both depth and freshness. In its second year Flow is focusing on bringing to the Indian marketing community perspectives that challenge long-held conventional beliefs. New concepts, provocative ideas, deep-dives into emerging themes- these are what the marketing practitioner can hope to hear at this year’s event.”

     

     

  • He has also worked as Resident Editor in Asianet News, Deccan Chronicle and Times of India

    Manoj K Das appointed editor of Mathrubhumi

    By A Correspondent

     

    Manoj K Das

    Manoj K Das has joined the Mathrubhumi Group of publications as Mathrubhumi Editor. In his previous stint, he was working, as the Resident editor of Times of India, Kerala.

     

    Das hails from Kanganzha in Kottayam. In 1994, he joined the New Indian Express and was later appointed as Kochi Bureau Chief, Deputy Resident Editor and as Resident Editor. He has also worked as Resident Editor in Asianet News, Deccan Chronicle and Times of India.

     

     

  • Presenting Week 2, Day 5 of of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. And do come back tomorrow for another question and another answer

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das: Can one trust audience measurement data?

    It’s going viral. Each Q&A we hear is firing up the Whatsapp and mail circuit. People have been laughing, screaming out incorrigible reading a response… but there’s no denying that each question-and-answer is profound and funny. Presenting Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. And do come back next week for another round of questions and answers.

     

    Please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar, to visit the archives of Q&As.

     

    Q. Can one trust audience measurement data?

     

    A. I am a strong advocate of data-based insights to complement decision-making processes. So any measurement data can at best be indicative and should be leveraged for directional purposes. Doubting the credibility of measurement data isn’t a constructive route to move towards an augmented intelligence.

     

  • It’s going viral. Each Q&A we hear is firing up the Whatsapp and mail circuit. People have been laughing, screaming out incorrigible reading a response… hut there’s no denying that each question-and-answer is profound and funny. Presenting Day 6 of of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. And do come back tomorrow for another question and another answer

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das: Why is it that none of the big Indian news media conglomerates have produced a product like InShorts or Dailyhunt?

    Bhaskar Das

    It’s going viral. Each Q&A we hear is firing up the Whatsapp and Gmail circuits. People have been laughing, screaming out incorrigible as they read a response… hut there’s no denying that each question-and-answer is profound and funny. Please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar, to visit the archives of Q&As.

    To those who don’t know who Dr Bhaskar Das is: well, he’s the former big boss of the Times of India group and Zee Media and Dainik Bhaskar and now Republic TV. For those who’ve known him or have heard him, Dr Das belongs to the rare species of advertising sales professionals who has this unique combination of being a deeply spiritual being and also a very persuasive salesperson. His unique turn of phrase can make you chuckle, but almost always sets you pondering. Read on and see how every googly bowled at him is hit back in style. And often far out of the park.

    Das ka Dum features on MxM – Monday through Friday, except on our ‘no edition days’. Presenting Week Two, Day 4:

     

    Q. Why is it that none of the big Indian news media conglomerates have been able to produce a product like InShorts or Dailyhunt?

     

    A. Going by the behavioural trend of India Inc, with the onset of VUCA as the new normal, a meta-realisation has dawned on me viz non-attachment to a successful business model and inability to inculcate a class of losers within a successful business… these are not easy traits to practise live. This axiom is industry- and organisation-neutral. I am sure there are exceptions but they are few and far between. That’s why disruptors are born and even when disruptors mature in their business, they get disrupted. In business and life there are very few holy cows.

  • The response to this new series of Q&As has been amazing. It of course all boils down to BD’s immense wisdom and popularity. Read on for Day 5 of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das.

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das: Which is a tougher question to answer – in any context: Why or How? And why?

    Bhaskar Das
    Bhaskar Das

    We hope you are enjoying the Q&As in Das ka Dum by Dr Bhaskar Das… just. The response to this new series of Q&As has been amazing. It of course all boils down to BD’s immense wisdom and popularity. Presenting Day 5 of of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. And do come back tomorrow for another question, and another answer

    The link to yesterday’s column is: https://www.mxmindia.com/2019/09/das-ka-dum-with-dr-bhaskar-das-if-you-could-relive-your-career-is-there-anything-that-you-would-like-to-redo-now-please-dont-give-a-politically-correct-answer/ And the links to the ones before that are in the last Q&A.

    To those who don’t know who Dr Bhaskar Das is: well, he’s the former big boss of the Times of India group and Zee Media and Dainik Bhaskar and now Republic TV. For those who’ve known him or have heard him, Dr Das belongs to the rare species of advertising sales professionals who has this unique combination of being a deeply spiritual being and also a very persuasive salesperson. His unique turn of phrase can make you chuckle, but almost always sets you pondering. At MxMIndia, we enjoy our conversations with him. And for every googly we bowl at him, he hits back like no one has ever before.

    Das ka Dum features on MxM – Monday through Friday, except on our ‘no edition days’. Presenting Day 5:

     

    Q. Which is a tougher question to answer – in any context: Why or How? And why?

     

    A. The quest for categorisation for a deterministic answer is quintessential. The world can’t anymore be ‘either-or’. We have to move from orness to andness. So sequentiality of why, how, what can be done depending on the context but they are fundamentally inter-connected queries for exploring answers to all unexplored areas.

  • Those who’ve had a chat with BD are familiar with his repartees and spiritual responses to down-to-earth issues and problems… Welcome to Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das… a Q&A like never before, Monday through Friday

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das: If you could relive your career, is there anything that you would like to redo? ? Now please don’t give a politically correct answer

    Bhaskar Das

    We hope you are enjoying the Q&As in Das ka Dum by Dr Bhaskar Das… just. There are of course many who say that the column was a no-brainer. Those who’ve had a chat with BD are familiar with his repartees and spiritual responses to down-to-earth issues and problems.

     

    To those who’ve come in late, the link to yesterday’s column is: https://www.mxmindia.com/2019/09/das-ka-dum-with-dr-bhaskar-das-with-so-many-people-losing-jobs-in-the-media-would-you-say-its-a-safe-place-for-people-to-take-up-as-a-career/

    And the link to the ones before that are in the last column.

     

    The questions will be answered by Dr Bhaskar Das, the former big boss of the Times of India group and Zee Media and Dainik Bhaskar and now Republic TV. For those who’ve known him or have heard him, Dr Das belongs to the rare species of advertising sales professionals who has this unique combination of being a deeply spiritual being and a very persuasive salesperson. His unique turn of phrase can make you chuckle, but almost always sets you pondering. At MxMIndia, we enjoy our conversations with him. And for every googly we bowl at him, he hits back like no one has ever before.

     

    Das ka Dum will feature Monday through Friday, except on our ‘no edition days’. Enjoy Day 4.

     

    Q. If you had the opportunity to relive your professional career, is there one thing – or may be two or three – that you would like to redo? Now please don’t give a politically correct answer

            

    A. Why should I relive my professional career when I am so grateful that I could do my best what I was assigned to by God through earthly intermediaries. It may not be the best by material standards or by the expectations of a role model. But I didn’t aspire for them either. When one is in a trance of equanimity,  there is neither anything to seek, nor anything to achieve.

     

    This is not a politically correct answer. I don’t want to indulge in any etymological dissection of the word political but I feel it’s an oxymoron as when one is political , one can’t be correct.

     

     

    Editor: As we mentioned before, some of the words and phrases our dear BD uses could go over your head. So, purely in reader interest, we will link such words to the dictionary meaning. Now we don’t think etymological is a tough word, but perhaps equanimity might well be for some.

  • Day 2 of our all-new daily Q&A with Dr Bhaskar Das, the M&E industry’s much-loved and much-revered big boss

    Das ka Dum… today’s question to Dr Bhaskar Das: Are you really spiritual or is it a façade?

    We launched this feature yesterday, and judging by the number of views it  generated, we can say it’s a super-duper hit.

    For those who’ve come in late: here’s a link to yesterday’s Das Ka Dum: https://www.mxmindia.com/2019/09/introducing-das-ka-dum-where-dr-bhaskar-das-responds-to-our-questions-like-only-he-can/

     

    The questions will be answered by Dr Bhaskar Das, the former big boss of the Times of India group and Zee Media and Dainik Bhaskar and now Republic TV. For those who’ve known him or have heard him, Dr Das belongs to the rare species of advertising sales professionals who is a true gyaani… and may we add, likes to share his gyaan. His unique turn of phrase can make you chuckle, but is sure to set you pondering. At MxMIndia, we enjoy our conversations with him. And for every googly we bowl at him, he hits back like no one has ever before.

    Das ka Dum will feature Monday through Friday, except on our ‘no edition days’. Enjoy Day 2.

     

     Sir, are you really spiritual or is it a façade? After all, a hard-core ‘sale-oo’ like you can’t always be so philosophical in outlook… right?

     

    It’s a very legit query in a world where facade can be attributed to anything. That we are all all spiritual beings is a default reality. In our perception of duality, spiritualism is perceived as a facade. It has no connection with marketing/sales. Absence of customary evidence of one’s spiritualism is no evidence of its absence. But I empathise with the mendacity of such doubts.

     

    Editor: we appreciate that some of the words and phrases our dear and delightful BD uses can go over your head. So, purely in reader interest, we will link such words to the dictionary meaning. Like we’ve done in the case of ‘mendacity’ today. If you still can’t figure what he really means, sorry, we can’t help you. Curse yourself for not having had the opportunity of interacting with him (BD, who else?!)