Consumerism has become an all pervasive term meaning people's Search for getting better value for their money. In the era of Globalisation the service sector is expanding and the products are becoming more complicated and the sellers are evolving into large entities. In a situation like this the consumers are unable to protect themselves. This has led to universal emphasis on Consumer protection and consumer welfare. No doubt there are Laws to protect the consumers yet an alert consumer, aware of his rights and responsibilities, can not only protect himself but can also make consumer sovereignty a reality.

The present volume is a collection of theme papers of a National Seminar on "Consumer Protection in India: Problems and Prospects" organised by Centre for Consumer Studies, IIPA and G.B. Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad. Based on specific themes, the book is divided into four sections. The papers are written by well known academicians, researchers and consumer activists. The papers Review the present status and draw lessons for developing a strategy for strengthening the consumer movement in the country.

The book will prove useful to academicians, researchers, Policy makers and all those who are interested in strengthening the consumer movement.

About the Author
Dr. K.N. Bhatt holds his M.A and Ph.D in Economics and is currently working as an Associate Professor and Coordinator, Centre for Population, Environment and Health at G. B. Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad. Dr Bhatt specializes in Environmental economics and social development. He has published four Books and more than two dozen Research papers in Journals and Edited Volumes. Dr. Bhatt has also directed a number of internationally sponsored and funded research projects in inter-disciplinary Social Science issues relating to development, education, Child labour, hill development, decentralization, disaster management and allied areas. Dr. Bhatt has been associated as a resource person/specialist with a number of organisations and is a member of a number of Professional bodies.

Prof. Suresh Misra is currently working with the Indian Institute of Public" Administration, New Delhi as Chair Professor (Consumer Affairs) and Chairman, Centre for Consumer Studies. He holds his Masters degree in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Masters in Human Resource Management from Pondicherry Central University and Ph.D. from Allahabad Central University. He had his advance training in Rural management from Development Study Centre, Rehovot, Israel and in Training Techniques and Methodology from the Thames Valley University, UK. Dr. Misra has authored/edited 13 books and contributed more than 60 papers in journals of repute. His areas of Interest include Consumer Protection, Administrative Reforms, Development Administration and Local Governance.

Ms. Sapna Chadah is working as Assistant Professor (Administrative and Constitutional Law) at the Indian Institute of Public Administration. She has done her LLB and LLM from Delhi University and is pursuing her Ph.D. from Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. Ms. Sapna has organised a number of capacity building programmes in the area of consumer protection. She has completed a number of research projects and has published papers in journals of repute.