A STUDY ON LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ON CONSUMER PROTECTION PRACTICES PJAEE, 18 (1) (2021)

"A STUDY ON LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

ON CONSUMER PROTECTION PRACTICES"
Dr. G. NEDUMARAN1, Ms. D. MEHALA2, Ms. C. Rani3
1Professor,
Department of Commerce, Alagappa University, Karaikudi.
2Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Commerce, Alagappa University, Karaikudi.
3Ph.D. Research Scholar,Alagappa Institute of Mangement, Alagappa University,

Karaikudi.
Email: [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected]

Dr. G. NEDUMARAN1, Ms. D. MEHALA, Ms. C. Rani, A STUDY ON LEVEL

OF AWARENESS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ON CONSUMER
PROTECTION PRACTICES, -- Palarch’s Journal Of Archaeology Of
Egypt/Egyptology 18(1). ISSN 1567-214x

Keywords: Consumers, consumer protection, consumer rights, consumer

education.

ABSTRACT
Any man or woman who purchases services or products for his private use and not for production
or resale is referred to as a consumer. A consumer is one who is the choice maker whether to buy
or not to buy an item. Consumer forum the largest economic group in any country. They’re the
pivots of all economic activities. it is regularly stated that the consumer is king, but in truth clients
are handled very badly within the marketplace. The consumer are cheated in distinct methods by
way of middlemen like adulteration, under-weight of goods, promoting items of inferior high-
quality and duplicated goods, charging high costs, misleading advertisement in the media, etc.The
consumers are not positive of having qualitative items manufactured and preserved in hygienic
circumstance and at aggressive prices. The maximum critical step in patron training is making
them privy to client rights and to empower them for self-protection from the unscrupulous
businessmen. Education is a lifelong method of constantly acquiring applicable information,
expertise and competencies. Consumer education is an important a part of this technique.
Consumer education at the college level is an critical process to enhance the capability of the
youngsters especially the students to take the duty for their own lifestyles, their circle of relatives,
obligations to society and the environment. It facilitates the scholars to participate inside the social
lifestyles, as competent citizens. College students are not best study the consumer rights and
responsibilities however also educate their Parent and the network, thereby they're enriching the
society.
I. Introduction
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Capitalism and globalization, the main objective of each producer is to maximize

his profit. In each and every possible way the producer are trying to increase the
sale of their products. Therefore, in fulfilment of their aim they forget the interests
of consumer s and start exploiting them for example – overcharging, under
weighing, selling of adulterated and poor quality goods, misleading the consumers
by giving false advertisement etc. Thus in order to save himself from being cheated,
it is necessary for a consumer to be aware. In this way, consumer awareness means
noticing the general public about consumer rights and protective legislations.
Education is a lifelong process of constantly acquiring relevant information,
knowledge and skills. Consumer education is an important part of this process.
Consumer education at the college level is an important process to enhance the
capacity of the youth particularly the students to take the responsibility for their
own life, their family, obligations to the society and the environment. Consumer
education helps the students to participate in the social life, as competent citizens.
This is also a way and opportunity to the teachers to teach the students to educate
the awareness level of general public on Consumerism, unless we never the quit
unfair trade practices of middlemen and traders.

II.Review of Literature
Madugu Vijay Kumar(2016) in his article “ An Assessment of Consumer
Awareness and protection”, examine that the majority of the respondents showed
low level of awareness and low level of utilization of consumer rights. Respondents
who are aware about the consumer rights but they never lodge complaint against
exploitation. The 42 % of respondents as a consumer never ask purchasing bill,
40% of respondents always ask purchasing bill, 10 % rarely ask purchasing bill and
only 4% consumers often and sometimes ask purchasing bill. A large number of
respondents as a consumer (64%) always check the quality of the products, 28%
often check, 4% sometimes check and 4% rarely check the quality of the product
while buying the products. Majority of respondents (80%) never cross check the
weights of the products, only 6% respondents always cross check the weights of the
products. Majority of the respondents (65 percentages) had low level of awareness.
It is further found that highest level of the awareness (100%) was regarding the
right to choose and least awareness was found regarding right to redress (40%) in
direct observation.
N. Indirani& C. Ashok Kumar(2016),in their article “Awareness on Consumer
Rights among Undergraduate Students in Tiruchirappalli City”examine the
consumer awareness is the study of how individuals make decision on spending
their available resource of money, time and effort on consumption-related items.
Hence the present study was designed in such a way as to investigate “Awareness
on Consumer Rights among Undergraduate Students in Tiruchirappalli City.”On
the basis of results obtained from the present study some practical suggestions are
offered, which will be helpful for teachers to apply in classroom teaching.
Consumer Education Programme for the students through formal and informal
means would be effective in creating Consumer Awareness. It will help to develop
skills to make informal decision in the purchase of goods and services in the light
of personal values, maximum utilization of resources, available alternatives,
ecological considerations and changing economic conditions. The administrative

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and curriculum authorities must lay stress on consumer education in the school and
college curricula. Consumer education should develop critical awareness among
students through direct, involvement in discussions, talks, exhibitions, research,
workshop etc., Teachers and other interested parties should encourage formation of
consumer youth, clubs in colleges to provide experiential and leadership
opportunities.
G.Nedumaran&,D.Mehala(2020) in his article “Consumer Protection - Problems
And Prospects ”reviewed The Consumer Protection Act 1986 portrays a buyer as
one who buys anything chooses any contacts or less paid and generally ensured or
under any method of yielded separate transparently from conveyance. We
overall changes into a customer at any rate people simply consider the rights
and obligations they have as the client. The dynamic utilization of the Consumer
Protection Act began since 1990. Huge number of clients and associations started
efficient towards consumer protection.

III.Objectives
1. To know the extent of awareness college students on consumer rights.
2. To understand their buying behavior and their existing practice while
buying goods and availing services.

IV.Research methodology
Sampling design: The testing procedure applied for the investigation as simple
random sampling method adopted, the respondents selected randomly from the total
populace.
Sample Size: The sample size under this study is 150 respondents. The
questionnaire used to collect data from the consumer respondents by approaching
directly.
Nature of the study: The study is descriptive. The required data for the study
collected from the primary and secondary sources.
Primary data: The primary data collected from the sample subjects,
Secondary data: The secondary data collected from the journals, books websites,
and published data related to consumer education.
Statistical tools: Simple descriptive statistical tools like percentages and chi-square
test analyse the data for drawing the conclusions.

V.Results and Discussions

Table-1
AGE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE
18-20 113 75
21-23 21 14
24-27 11 7.3
Above28 5 3.3
Total 150 100
Gender
Male 32 21
Female 118 79
Total 150 100
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Educational qualification
Graduate 87 58
Postgraduate 63
42
Total 150 100
Parent Occupation
Farmer 98 65
Business man 11 7.3
Government employee 10 6.7
Private employee 9 6
Self employee 22 15
Total 150 100
Parent Monthly income
10000-15000 115 77
15000-20000 20 13
20000-25000 9 6
Above 25000 6 4
Total 150 100
Source: Primary data
Interpretation:
The above table indicates that out of 150 respondents of the 75% of the respondents
fall under the category of below 18-20 years, 3.3% under the category of above28
years. Thus the majority of the respondents fall in the below 18-20 years. The above
table indicates that out of 150 respondents of the 79% of the respondents fall under
the category of female, 21% under the category of male. Thus a majority of the
respondents fall in the category of female. The above table indicates that out of 150
respondents of the 58% of the respondents fall under the category of Graduate 42
% the category of Postgraduate. Thus a majority of the respondents fall in the
category of Graduate. The above table indicates that out of 150 respondents of the
65% of the respondents fall under the category of farmer,6% of the respondents fall
under the category of Private employee, Thus the majority of the respondents fall
in the farmer (Parent occupation). The above table indicates that out of 150
respondents 77% of the respondents fall under the category of monthly income
Rs10000-15000, 4% under the category of monthly income above Rs25000. Thus
the majority of the respondents fall in the category of monthly income Rs10000-
15000 (Parent monthly income).
Table-2
S.NO Age of the Practice of Checking Total
respondents MRP, Date of Expiry
High Medium Low
1. 18-20 63 30 20 113
2. 21-23 12 4 5 21
3. 24-27 4 4 3 11
4. Above 28 2 2 1 5
Total 81 40 29 150

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Source: Primary Data

Table 2 reveals that out of 150 respondents 18-20,age, 63 are under high level
Practice of Checking MRP, Date of Expiry. Above 28, 2 are under high level of
Practice of Checking MRP, Date of Expiry. Chi-square test is used to test the
following null hypothesis.
There is no association between Age of the respondents and Practice of Checking
MRP, Date of Expiry.

TABLE-3
Observed Expected (O-E)2 (O - E) 2 / E
frequency frequency
63 61 4 0.06
12 11 1 0.09
4 6 4 0.06
2 3 1 0.33
30 30 0 0
4 6 4 0.66
4 3 1 0.33
2 1 1 1
20 22 4 0.018
5 4 1 0.25
3 2 1 0.5
1 1 0 0
TOTAL 3.46
Chi-square calculated value is 3.46. Table value at 5% significance level for 6
degree of freedom is 12.592. The calculated value is less than the table value. The
null hypothesis is accepted. It is concluded that there is no association between Age
of the respondents and Practice of Checking MRP, Date of Expiry by students.

TABLE-4
S.NO Gender of the Knowledge on Consumer Total
respondents Rights
High Medium Low
1. Male 63 30 20 113
2. Female 12 4 5 21
Total 81 40 29 150

Source: Primary Data

Table 4 reveals that out of 32 male respondents, 63 are under high level of
Knowledge on Consumer Rights.118 female respondents, 79 are under high level
of Knowledge on Consumer Rights .It is assumed that gender of students will
influence Knowledge on Consumer Rights students. It is tested in this research
study whether there is any association between gender and Knowledge on
Consumer Rights. Chi-square test is used to test the following null hypothesis.
There is no association between gender and Knowledge on Consumer Rights
Table- 5
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Observed Expected (O-E)2 (O - E) 2 / E

frequency frequency
25 18 49 2.72
61 68 49 0.72
2 8 36 4.5
36 30 36 1.2
5 36 1 0.16
21 20 1 0.05
TOTAL 9.35
Chi-square calculated value is 9.35. Table value at 5% significance level for 2
degree of freedom is 5.991. The calculated value is greater than the table value. The
null hypothesis is rejected. It is concluded that there is association between gender
and Knowledge on Consumer Rights.
Table- 6
S.NO Parent Knowledge on Consumer Total
Occupation Court
High Medium Low
1. Farmer 50 36 12 98
2. Businessman 6 3 2 11
3. Government 4 3 3 10
employee
4. Private 3 4 2 9
employee
5. Self employee 11 9 2 22
Total 74 55 21 150

Source: Primary Data

Table 6 reveals that out of 98 farmers,(Parent occupation) 50 are under high level
Knowledge on Consumer Court Out of 9 private employees, 3 are under high level
of Knowledge on Consumer Court.It is assumed that occupation of parents of
students will influence Knowledge on Consumer Court. Chi-square test is used to
test the following null hypothesis.
There is no association between occupation of parents and Knowledge on
Consumer Court.
Table-7
S.NO Parent monthly Attended programs on Total
income(Rs) Consumerism
High Medium Low
1. 10000-15000 62 24 29 115
2. 15000- 3 12 5 20
20000
3. 20000-250000 3 4 2 9
4. Above25000 2 2 2 6
Total 70 42 38 150

Source: Primary Data

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Table 7 reveals that out of 115 respondents up to Rs10000-15000 parent monthly

income, 62 are under Attended programs on Consumerism. Out of 6 respondents
Rs 25000 parent monthly income, 2 are under high level attended programs on
Consumerism.
It is assumed that monthly income of parents of students will influence attended
programs on Consumerism of students. It is tested in this research study whether
there is any association between monthly income of parents and attended programs
on Consumerism. Chi-square test is used to test the following null hypothesis.
There is no association between monthly income of parents and attended programs
on Consumerism.

VI.Suggestion
1. It’s found that the programmes conducted by colleges on consumer
education aren't adequate.
2. Government ought to remember buyer training for the educational program of
schools.

VII.Conclusion
In general, the extent of awareness of college students on consumerism is
satisfactory. It behaviour during the buying process is appreciable. They need
checked the tools and instruments utilized in the measurement while
buying. They need verified MRP, Date of Mfg and Date of Expiry details
too. The notice level of the UG students is better than the PG students in many
aspects. PG students are not much involved in educating others. No much
difference found between the two genders with reference to the level of
awareness on consumer education. This study found that the feminine gender
hesitated to involve in programs of conducted outside the campus especially in
attending programmes and enriching the community also This study found that
the female gender hesitated to involve in programs of conducted outside the campus
especially in attending programmes and enriching the community as well.

Reference
1. Madugu Vijay Kumar(2016), International Journal of Humanities & Social
Science Studies (IJHSSS) A Peer-Reviewed Bi-monthly Bi-lingual Research
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May 2016, Page No. 338-343.
2. N. Indirani& C. Ashok Kumar(2016), Awareness on Consumer Rights among
Undergraduate Students in Tiruchirappalli City, International Journal of
Educational Investigations 2016 (March), Vol.3, No.3: 63-74 ISSN: 2410-3446.
3. G.Nedumaran.&, Mehala. D (2019),” Consumer Protection - Problems and
Prospects” JAC: A Journal Of Composition Theory 13 (I), 115 – 121.
4. Agrawal Meenu(2008) “Consumer Behaviour and Consumer Protection in
India”, New Century Publication, New Delhi, 2008, p. 87.
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6. Suppan, S., “Codex standards and consumer rights”, Consumer Policy

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