NCH Secures ₹52 Crore Refunds for Consumers in 9 Months

In a significant victory for consumer rights, the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) successfully resolved over 79,521 complaints between April 2023 and January 2024, facilitating refunds exceeding ₹52 crore. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution highlighted that these resolutions occurred at the pre-litigation stage, saving consumers from lengthy legal battles. E-commerce emerged as the sector with the highest grievances, accounting for ₹36 crore in refunds across 47,743 cases. This initiative, backed by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, utilizes a digital convergence model to connect consumers with companies, ensuring timely redressal through 17 languages and multiple platforms like WhatsApp and the Umang app.