Page 36 - PR Communication Age - JUNE 2016
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9 out of 10 Indians women to take their complaints quickly. All the peatedly shown India as having the
want to be an entrepre- employees receiving such calls must be most privatised healthcare systems in
neur professionally trained," Paswan told the world with out-of-pocket expenses
ministry officials while chairing the accounting for the bulk of medical
According to the Amway Global Entre- governing council meeting of Bureau of spending.
preneurship Report (AGER) 2015, India Indian Standards.
ranks highest among 44 countries The survey found that as high as 86%
worldwide in entrepreneurial spirit - 9 Verify products before en- of rural population and 82% of urban
out of 10 Indians show strong desire to dorsing: Paswan to celebs populations were still not covered un-
be an entrepreneur. der any scheme, public, or private, to
The consumer affairs ministry cau- support health expenditure. "It was
"93.6% of Indians show desire to be- tioned celebrities against endorsing observed that such coverage was
come an entrepreneur. This is way products without verifying their genu- broadly correlated with levels of living
above the average score of 55% for all ineness. It said fixing liability of such in both rural and urban sectors," noted
the 44 countries (studied)," the annual celebrities may be considered if prod- the survey. The poorer people appear
report by the US-based $9.5 billion ucts endorsed by them are found mis- unaware or beyond the reach of such
multi-level marketing company. Indian leading the consumers. overage, both in rural and urban ar-
entrepreneurs 'want to learn things', eas, it said.
'want to enjoy life' and 'like to be in Talking to reporters consumer affairs
charge' and 'tell others what to do', the minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that his Selfie takers in front of
study said. ministry would consider this suggestion running train may face 1
of central consumer protection coun- year jail
BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, cil (CCPC) and would take necessary
China and South Africa - are ahead of steps to protect the interest of con- Government Railway Police (GRP) has
developed nations like Japan and Ger- sumers. "The Council's view was celeb- directed officials to book selfie-takers
many on this score. "Countries with a rities should be responsible for mislead- in front of a running train, under sec-
higher entrepreneurial spirit exhibits ing advertisements," Paswan said. tions for attempt to commit suicide or
more positive attitudes toward entre- Paswan said celebrities have certain create nuisance, which can invite a jail
preneurship and higher entrepreneur- responsibilities as consumers are often term of up to a year.
ial potential and rates of self-employ- influenced by their endorsement.
ment," the report said. The order was confirmed by GRP Agra
Medical expenditure is division station officers, asking them to
Only 1 min to log con- bleeding India's poor book individuals taking selfies near a
sumer plaint train on the platform, at the compart-
People in villages mainly depend on ment exits or on railway tracks, "as this
The consumer affairs ministry is re- their household income or savings activity is liable to endanger not only
vamping the system to reduce the (68%) and borrowings (25%) to fund their lives, but also that of others".
waiting time from the present 5-6 min- hospitalisation expenses, reflecting the
utes. That will, however, not be failure of government agencies in ex- Deputy Superintendent of police for
enough to please consumer affairs panding the reach of health facilities GRP Agra division Raj Kumar Gautam
minister Ram Vilas Paswan who wants and insurance cover in rural areas. said, "From now on, if anyone is found
"instant" registration. taking a selfie close to a moving train
In cities, people rely much more on or on the railway track, the act will be
"Who has the patience to wait for 5 their income or savings (75%) than on treated as an attempt to commit sui-
minutes over phone to lodge a com- borrowings (18%) to fund their treat- cide, and they will be booked. They
plaint? Will an aggrieved person wait? ments reveals a government survey. It may even be jailed for endangering
We must have a robust system in place confirms earlier studies that have re- their lives and that of others."
"The mind is everything. What you think, you become."
36 PR COMMUNICATION AGE June 2016
