Ministry of Consumer Affairs launches Right to Repair portal

Ministry of Consumer Affairs launches Right to Repair portal

On National Consumer Day (24th December), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution unveiled a new portal called “Right to Repair” portal.

This portal will allow product manufacturer to share product manual with the consumers. This will enable consumers to repair their own products or have been repaired by third party, rather than being limited to using the original manufacturer for repair services.

Initially, it will cover mobile phones, consumer durables, electronics, automobiles and farming equipments. This portal will later be expanded to include other products.

What is Right to Repair ?

Right to repair is a legal right of consumers which allows consumers to repair their own products or have them repaired by independent technician.

This right is intended to promote sustainability by reducing the amount of electronic waste generated through the disposal of broken products.

It is supported by consumer advocacy groups and is becoming increasingly recognised as important consumer right in many countries around the world. US, UK ans European Union have already recognised this right.

Significance of Right to Repair

Cost : Repairing a product can often be more effective that replacing it, especially if it is still under warranty period. This can save consumers money and help them to get more value out of their product.

Consumer choice : It give consumer more options for repairing their products and allows them to choose repair option which suit their needs and budget.

Environment sustainability : Repairing products can help to reduce electronic waste and environmental impact of manufacturing new products. Approximately, 2 million tons of e-waste are generated annually in India.

Economic benefits : Repair products can generate jobs and stimulate local economy, as independent repair technicians offer repair services at a lower cost than manufacturer.

Product longevity : It can contribute to circular economy by improving product lifespan, maintenance, reuse, upgrade and reduce the need for frequent replacement.