Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat

Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat

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There is no field where a consumer is not exploited. All economic systems like capitalism, communism, socialism tried over the world have failed to give justice to consumers. It is therefore necessary for organizing the consumer and to provide in him a moral and spiritual strength to resist injustice, to voice descent and to boycott the corrupt, the cheater and the exploiter, without indulging in to the violence. ABGP has taken up this challenging role in this country.

2. Social control over economy:

The western consumerism is based only on artha and kama where as Indian philosophy is based on two other pillars called Dharm and Moksha.The prime aim of dharma is to resolve the two conflicting aims and activities of two forces. One is represented by the market structure which includes manufacturer,.distributor, retailer, seller etc and other is force is represented by consumer. The conceptual principle which reconciles these two diametrically opposing forces and regulates their behavioral pattern for mutual satisfaction is “ Dharma”, which ultimately leads to moksha. ABGP plans its strategy of work based on above principles.

3. System correcting movement:

The consumer movement shall be a means for the consumers to correct private and public enterprises, not to replace it. It is not possible for the consumer movement to take over the whole economic life in a free society, so the consumer movement is satisfied with remaining a sector in a mixed economy and its ambition is to become a counter veiling power. The aim of ABGP is to create multidimensional consumer organization spread over length and breadth of the country and provide an effective check to exploitation.

Vision

To create an ideal society with harmony in all sectors of economy like farmers, producers, sellers, consumers and the administrators.

Mission

To inculcate Indian ethos and values in the life of human beings and to make them an ideal well informed consumer who will always strive for,
1. Restrained consumption of everything.
2. Uniform distribution for all. And
3. Support increase in the production and supply.

History

In late 1970s, there was great restlessness due to social and political situation prevailing in the country. In the Pune city, a group of young social workers and leaders from various social forums, were organized together by late Shri. Bindu Madhav joshi. He was a freedom fighter, a graduate from SP college Pune, a sangh swayamsevak, and founder of Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat. In 1974, Mr. joshi, along with other eminent personalities like Sudhir Phadke, P.L.Deshpande, Prof. Dandekar, G.V.behere, and many other activists joined together to create “Yuvak Mahamandal Janata Grahak Sangh”. Some volunteers who joined this movement in 1974 like, Suryakant pathak, Thaksen pore, Dr.Ashok Kale etc are still with the organization handling various responsibilities.
Berfore diwali in the year 1974, first attempt to supply commodities required for festive seasons, through grahak sanghs created, was successful and an outstanding event in Pune. A boycott was declared for textile goods on Laxmi road, and movement volunteers labored to procure textile from producers and sale it to consumers at much cheaper rates. This was the beginning of movement called ABGP, which had its roots in the yuvak mahamandals. Jaiprakash Narayan who was leading a nationwide movement then, also blessed this movement during his visit to Pune. The formal inauguration of ABGP was done on 23 rd Dec 1975, at the hands of then Justice M.C.Chagla. In his inaugural speech he stated that what Pune thought today, India will thought subsequently. His words were proved correct, with the hard work under the leadership of late Bindu Madhav Joshi popularly known as Nana, and subsequent leaders, the movement reached more than 25 states, nearly 200 districts in the country by 2017.

Philsophy

Our ancient Indian Philosophy is founded by seers and the way of life has been ordained by them. We apply the same principles and values to consumer movement. We believe in thorough discussions and debate and the strategy and procedures for action programs for protecting consumer from exploitation. Our Indian philosophy guides us to use body, mind, intellect and soul in proper proportion, while undertaking any act of consumption. A self restrained consumer policy based on following three principles is our main area of function.

1. The consumer is king
2. Consumer is kingpin of democracy.
3. Consumer is a capital.
In other words, consumer consciousness has three aspects.
01. He is to be considered king of all economic transactions.
02. He is the pivot around which the wheel of democracy revolves.
03. He is the vital life breadth of the economy.

3.Programs leading to resistance:

The major work of the consumer movement is is to wage a war against the tendencies such as creation of scarcity conditions by cornering essential commodities, raising prices excessively, selling adulterated goods etc, which are all unlawful activities.

It also tries to keep watch on new methods of marketing and consumer exploitation, and to bring it to the notice of government for further remedies.

4.Weapon of boycott

This is a constructive conflict which will be non violent but sustained. Bycott can be organized by stopping purchasing of particular products, peaceful picketing at sales outlets, slogans and demonstrations, etc,.

The working of ABGP shall be a balanced mix of all the four maxims, so well mixed that it will be attractive, inspiring and result oriented.

The founder of this movement late Shri. Bindu madhav Joshi alia Nana was a staunch sangh swyamsevak. After well establishment of the ABGP in Maharashtra, he planned to expand it in entire country and sought support from RSS team to provide volunteers in new places. The Sangh management has supported the movement by providing large number of volunteers in various states and have also deputed it’s full time volunteers called Pracharaks to this movement. As a result the movement has spread all over the country. At present we have four full time pracharaks working in New Delhi, Orissar, Madhya Pradesh and Tamilnadu. We also have a senior swyamsevak as Margdarshak for the ABGP continuously.

The management of the ABGP is an independent affair of volunteers and RSS has given total freedom to organization to plan, administer and implement the activities, so as to make it an independent, self reliant and self motivated NGO to serve the community and nation at large. As ABGP believes in the fact that every human being is a consumer since birth to death, it always tries to reach all sections of the society irrespective of cast, creed and religion.

Since 1975 we have created Garuda as our logo and the words “Grahak Panchayat” as our brand short name. As it has acquired popularity all over the nation, in order to prevent it’s multiple use by others, both these logo and words ”grahak Panchayat” were protected under copy right act. Although the copyright act protection was obtained in the name of Late Bindu Madhav Joshi as an individual, it is the fact that since 1975 till to date these were used by ABGP only in all communications, printing etc.

Therefore no other NGO can use these words and logo without explicit permission from ABGP. Few such instances have come to the notice in the country, which are being dealt with legally by ABGP.

Latest News

March 10, 2017 / All

Dispute with builders continue to top forum cases in Pune

Pune: Even as the Pune district consumer forum completed 15 years yesterday, the story isn't much different as to when it started. Disputes between builders and property buyers take the bulk of cases filed before the forum. Of the 23,000-odd cases filed, over 20 per cent pertain to cases filed...

March 10, 2017 / All, new cat 3