Last Sunday I left my flat with the aim of buying an immersion heater and a 100 Watt bulb because early morning bathing was getting increasingly painful and it was worse with teh light out :) . I walked into the first electrical shop and asked for an immersion rod. Like an empowered citizen of modern India, I checked for the ISI mark and approved of the product. The shopkeeper, a sardarji, promptly wrote out a bill for the same (without me asking for it) while telling me that I would have to get the light bulb from another store.
I put the bill in my pocket and trudged along the lane to another electrical shop. Here I asked for a 100 W light bulb. While the store-help was getting the same, I checked with the storekeeper about the price of an immersion rod. He saw the packed device in my hand and asked me why I needed another one. Before I could answer, he 'commanded' me to show him the bill of the last purchase. I don't know what overcame me...I just gave him the bill. He looked at the bill for a few seconds then took off his glasses while shaking his head.
Storekeeper: Are you literate sir?
Me: Eh?
Storekeeper: Do you know how to read sir?
Me: Eh?
Then he handed me the bill and said, “If you do know how to read, could you please read what is written in the item column?". That was the first time that I took a look at the bill. The item column had an entry – an undecipherable squiggle. I looked up sheepishly and found the storekeeper staring at my face.
Storekeeper: What?
Me: Naught!
Storekeeper: What?
Me: Naught!
Storekeeper: What?
Me: Naught! ...Nothing…Nothing is written on it.
Storekeeper: Do you watch television?
Me: yeah.
Storekeeper: Do you watch anything other than Fashion TV?
Me: Eh?
Storekeeper: If you do, don’t you know that the bill must be a clear document of purchase? Don’t you know that tax indications and clear product information must be mentioned on the bill?
By this time, I was already red (yes, if you look closely, you can make out the colour even on my face!). I hurriedly paid for the bulb and while mumbling something incomprehensible about the terrible weather, quickly moved out of the store.
Last Sunday a class 5 pass storekeeper taught me something valuable. He taught me the value of consumer rights and also of the duties that protect the rights…it is a lesson that I sure won’t forget in a jiffy.
