Consumer Action Group (CAG) – as was the name at the time of its inception - was established in 1985 by a group of public-spirited professionals (Mr. Govind Swaminathan, Mr. Guhan, Ms. Shyamala, Mr. S.L. Rao, Mr Sriram Panchu). In later years, it was renamed as Citizen consumer and civic Action Group to reflect the organisation’s expanding scope of work. CAG’s vision is that the voice of the common citizen be heard, enabling their active participation in decision making and governance. Issues affecting the common citizen, in areas of consumer rights, governance and the environment are priorities in the work undertaken by CAG, with a focus on enhancing participatory spaces for the public.
With its many decades of work on the ground, CAG recognises the critical importance of data-driven action. This means that everything CAG says or recommends is backed by evidence, not merely opinion. Hand in hand with this is a strong emphasis on education and awareness building exercises, as we recognise citizens’ ability to participate in and influence policy. This naturally leads to advocacy and representation campaigns, where we take our research and public sentiment to government agencies.
The use of RTIs has been a key advocacy strategy which CAG has used over the years. This together with Public Interest Litigations (PIL’s) seeking the intervention of the legal system to promote good governance has led to several milestone victories for citizens, through CAG. Some of the PIL’s include:
- Ensuring the protection of public parks and water bodies by preventing construction and reclamation
- Successfully preventing regularisation of large commercial buildings that deviate from building development rules. This led to CAG being appointed to the Monitoring Committee of the CMDA to look at building deviations in the city.
- Successful protection of Chennai’s wetland spread over 358 acres to prevent it from being concretized. Later, CAG was Appointed Member of the Monitoring Committee by the High Court to monitor a Rs. 100 crore wetland restoration project initiated by the as a State.
In the area of governance, our activities have ranged from campaigning for greater access to information, monitoring the functioning of public utilities and advocating for greater transparency and accountability in governmental and private sector functioning, to decentralized and localized urban planning, and the protection of open spaces and our heritage buildings.
Since 1985 CAG has kept pace with the new challenges arising for consumers – from basic problems relating to defective goods and services, to investor protection, telecom sector reforms, unethical promotional practices adopted by pharma companies that have a direct impact on drug costs, ill-effects of junk food, misleading advertisements, e-commerce and digital financial services, sustainable production and consumption practices, and so on. Since the past 39 years, CAG’s helpdesk has been providing free legal guidance and support to the public.
Our definition of consumers is expansive, drawing within it food safety and medical services. Several studies by CAG in this area have directly impacted public health. For example, a key study by CAG on the impact of unhealthy foods in schools led the Consumer Protection Department to issue a circular directing schools to stop selling junk food. Other examples include a study on the safety and hygiene maintained by street food vendors, accompanied by training in hygiene practices; initiatives to eliminate trans fats from the food supply chain; a survey capturing and amplifying patient voices on hypertension care in the State; and advocacy for for clear warning labels on packaged foods highlighting high levels of salt, sugar, and fat on the front of the packaging.
Every single household in the State is a consumer of electricity. CAG has therefore long worked on electricity governance and consumer empowerment. Milestone victories here include being instrumental in establishing a fully functional Electricity Regulatory Commission in the State. Studies in this area have focussed on assessments of transparency, accountability, capacity, and participation within Tamil Nadu’s electricity sector; electricity planning; utilizing electricity bills as tools to improve governance; and developing model bills. The Electricity Consumer Cells, run in seven districts of Tamil Nadu, assisted electricity consumers in getting their issues addressed - a sterling example of empowering stakeholders. In keeping with the holistic theme of environmental protection, CAG works to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy through multiple means - energy audits, workshops, and active engagement with various stakeholders, including prosumers.
As extreme weather events and climate change concerns took centre-stage in the news, zero-waste, sustainability and climate action took centre stage in CAG’s work. This has included a range of reports, resources, and activities with all of the previously mentioned targets intact - protecting citizens’ rights, promoting good governance and participatory decision making. In this sphere, CAG worked with local communities to enhance their understanding of environmental laws, particularly the Environmental Impact Assessment process, to enable more effective participation. CAG prepared and piloted a climate change curriculum for students in Grades III to VIII, which was very well received by both the government and educational institutions. CAG conducted a study on climate literacy in Tamil Nadu for the Department of Environment and Climate Change and submitted its findings and recommendations. At the request of the Tamil Nadu Wetland Mission, CAG organised awareness programs on the importance of wetlands for communities and schools nearby. Currently, we are developing a communications toolkit for the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Since its inception five years ago, CAG’s Climate Action Month—a unique month-long engagement—aims to educate all sections of society about the impacts of climate change and the importance of adopting sustainable practices in daily life.
CAG also actively advocates for decentralised management of solid waste, with a focus on zero waste policies and practices and the inclusion of informal waste pickers in the process. CAG served as a knowledge partner to the Chennai City Corporation, helping to educate their officials and conservancy workers on waste segregation. CAG’s continued advocacy played a key role in the government’s ban on single use plastics.
CAG also champions road safety and sustainable mobility as key aspects of public well-being. As a member of the Road Safety Network (RSN), a pan-India coalition dedicated to improving road safety, CAG successfully advocated for amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act to enhance road safety nationwide. Recognizing speeding as a major concern, CAG is currently pushing for an evidence-based guiding document on speed management for Tamil Nadu, along with a much-needed comprehensive Road Safety Action Plan for the State. Studies on helmet and seat belt compliance across various Tamil Nadu districts revealed poor adherence, bringing this reality to the attention of the traffic police. CAG’s work on sustainable mobility emphasizes the need for longer, continuous footpaths, dedicated cycle lanes, expanded public transport, and improved first- and last-mile connectivity. Additionally, CAG’s study on the effectiveness of Tamil Nadu’s free bus scheme highlighted how free, accessible public transport can transform lives and livelihoods.
Our public outreach over the years, has seen the creation of numerous, indispensable ready-reckoners, targeting various sections of the society, like young consumers, women self-help groups and other citizens, with information to help make informed choices; tips on energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewables; road safety and sustainable use of personal transport; demystifying the various laws and regulations for easy understanding and so on. Apart from this, CAG also experiments with more culturally traditional means like street-plays, puppet-shows and board games that would enable a wider reach of its messages.
CAG disseminates information on various topics through its quarterly e-newsletter the “Public Newsense”; “Consumer Update” a bi-monthly e-newsletter on consumer issues ; “Current News” a monthly e-newsletter on electricity- and “Climate Connection” a bi-monthly e-newsletter on environment and climate change.
CAG is active on social media and is present on all important social media handles.
CAG collaborates and works closely with several like-minded organizations and individuals at the international, national, state and district levels.
With a revitalized and expanded team, strong and professional leadership within the organization, a powerful and committed Board of Trustees and Advisors, and support from philanthropic organizations, CAG is poised to build on the strengths and successes of the past towards a future of greater impact. CAG team wishes to thank each and every one of those who have been part of its successful journey thus far.
Add new comment