The Public Newsense (October - December 2022)
Read about the latest on those policies and events that shape our city, our nation and the world around us. And read about CAG's latest work across our different areas of work.
The Public Newsense
Understanding the different charges when obtaining a new electricity connection
Electricity is such an essential part of our everyday life that we do not consider the effort, both physical and economic, by the distribution utility to supply it to us. These include, but are not limited to, the raw materials that are used to supply electricity (such as wires),the labour needed to install meters, place underground wires, the transportation of materials needed to undertake the work etc. These costs are therefore levied as charges by the electricity distribution company on the consumer who wants a new electricity connection to his/her premises.
An analysis of the e-com complaints received by CAG during 2021-22
Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), for the last 37 years, has been offering a free and voluntary consumer protection service. Consumers can write in or call with their grievances, which could be against services or goods bought by them. They will receive advice and support throughout the redressal process.
Free bus for women: a hit or miss?
In May 2021, the Tamil Nadu government launched a scheme that made public city and town buses (with certain caveats) free for women. While the rides are completely free (with no restrictions on the number of trips per day or month), the scheme is applicable only on ‘white board’ buses. The white board buses are what are known as Ordinary Bus Routes and represent the most inexpensive category of service that halts at all bus stops on a given route.
CCPA's guidelines on ‘Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022’
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on June 9th of 2022 issued guidelines aiming to further protect consumers from claims and promises from advertisements that are misleading, baseless, unjustified, unrealistic, false, etc.
Solidarity economy - a way forward in this era of climate chaos
We need to embrace ourselves for what our world is turning out to be. Of all the challenges faced by mankind, climate change remains the most threatening issue of all time with the survival of our very planet at stake. The world around us is reeling from the ill effects of a warming globe.
Network charges on grid-connected rooftop solar
Growth of solar in TN:
Banks' liability for deficiency in locker services
Is it safe to store your valuables in a bank locker? This is a question that many of us have when thinking about renting bank lockers.
‘Castaway clothes and plastic’
A cycle and a loudspeaker accompany Ladoo as he makes his way around Chennai’s neighborhoods, gathering old clothes. He turns off his loudspeaker around certain homes. ‘They don’t like the noise’, he explains to me, as I stop him for a chat. Laddo has been in this business for twenty five years now. ‘In all this time, people have not changed’, he tells me philosophically. ‘Only my cycle and loudspeaker have’.
Share Autos: making our cities more sustainable
Urbanization in India was at a high of 31.16% between 2001 and 2011 (Census of India, 2011). This rapid urbanization is reflected at the local level - Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanized states with 44% of people living in cities like Chennai (Census of India, 2011). Unfortunately, this has also meant that cities have become very crowded, polluted spaces where everything is at a premium - education, housing, transport, food, water - the list goes on.