The ways and means of consumer protection are stated as follows:

1. Lok Adalat (People’s Court) 

2. Public Interest Litigation (Janhit Yachika) 

3. Redresssl Forums 

4. Awareness Programmes 

5. Consumer Organisations 

6. Consumer Welfare Fund 

7. Legislative Measures

1. Lok Adalat : Lok Adalat, i.e. People’s Court is established by the government to settle the disputes by compromise. It is the effective and economical system for quick redressal of public complaints and grievances. In this system the aggrieved party can directly approach the Lok Adalat with his complaint. In Lok Adalat, issues are discussed immediately and decisions are taken without delay. The order passed by the Lok Adalat is given statutory recognition. In public sector, some organisations such as Railways, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL). Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Insurance Companies, Banks, etc. regularly hold Lok Adalat to resolve consumer’s problems through compromise.

2. Public Interest Litigation (Janahit Yachika) : As name indicates it is a legal action initiated in a court of law in regard to a matter of general public interest. Under this, any person can approach a court of law in the interest of the public and ask for justice. It does not involve individual interest but interest of unrepresented groups of the society. After studying and verifying the case, the court gives justice which will benefit the specific group of society or entire society. It can be filed by any party which may not be related to grievance. In some cases Janahit Yachika can be filed in the High Court as well as in Supreme Court directly.

3. Redressal Forums : Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, Consumer Dispute Redressal agencies have been established by the Government to protect the rights of consumers and to offer speedy and inexpensive redressal for their complaints. These agencies are District Commission at district level. State Commission at state level and National Commission at national level. Any aggrieved consumer or association of consumers can file a complaint with respective commission depending on the value of goods and amount of claim for compensation.

4. Awareness Programmes : The Government of India has initiated various publicity measures such as use of journals, brochures, booklets and various posters depicting the rights and responsibilities of consumers redressal machineries, i.e. consumer courts, observation of International (World) Consumer Rights Day on 15th March and National Consumer Day on 24th December every year to create awareness among the consumers about their rights and responsibilities. Various consumer related programmes are also telecast on various TV channels and broadcasted on radio, FM channels and social media to create awareness among the consumers.

5. Consumer Organisations : Many consumer organisations such as Consumer Guidance Society of India, Grahak Panchayat, Grahak Shakti, Consumers’ Association, etc., are active throughout India to fight for consumers’ rights through protest, campaigning, lobbying, etc. Consumer movement is also well active in India and helps individuals to get quick and adequate compensation and justice for their grievances. It is also necessary to strengthen consumer movement throughout India.

6. Consumer Welfare Fund (CWF) : This fund is created by the Department of Consumer Affairs for providing financial help to voluntary consumer movement specially in rural areas. This financial assistance is used for training and research in consumer education, complaint handling, counselling and guidance mechanism, product testing labs, etc.

7. Legislative Measures : The Government of India has passed several acts such as Sale of Goods Act, 1930; Essential Commodities Act, 1955; the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956; Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1969; Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; National Food Security Act, 2013, etc. to protect the interest of consumers from unethical practices of businessmen.

However, these laws could not protect the consumers as such and therefore the Government of India has passed a powerful Act known as Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to protect the interest of consumers.