History
Early 70's were the days of shortages and scarcity of all essential commodities in our country. Hoarding, Black Marketing, Cheating in rates as well as weights measurements and quality were very common. Consumers were being ruthlessly exploited. Society, in general, was upset. At such situation few volunteers from Pune and Mumbai like Shri. Bindu Madhav Joshi, Late Sudhir Phadke, P.W. Gadgil, Madhukar Mantri, Rambhau Barve, Vidyadhar Gokhale etc, came together to mobilize consumer movement and possibility for establishing a consumer organization. With their sustained efforts Mumbai Grahak Panchayat was established in year 1975 and registered in 1981 under Charity Commission Act 1950 (Reg No. F7000). The basic idea was distribution of goods of essential house hold needs, to the organization members with collective buying on No Profit No Loss basis.
The goods distribution system established by Mumbai Grahak Panchayat is one of its kind and functional with ascending order for the last 45 years without single failure. Initially started with just families of 25, now grown to 32000 families in Mumbai,Thane ,Raigad, Pune, Ratnagiri and, Palghar districts of Maharashtra. Even consumer International has lauded the distribution system as unique model for other developing countries and also role model for promoting sustainable consumption at the 18th World Congress held at Sydney, Australia in 2007. In fact, this distribution system is useful in the current retail scenario in the country.
Did the founder member think of distribution of essential provisions can be a foundation for consumer movement? Which was the ultimate goal? Because any movement should have two wings essentially, viz. Protection & Education.Though mission started with monthly distribution, founders wanted to make consumers in general, empowered by their rights and to establish their soverginity.
MGPs another uniqueness is largest number of voluntary activists including top management, and also largest participation of women volunteers. This consistent growth is not the result of any aggressive marketing or publicity, but solely based on mouth to mouth publicity by the members & well-wishers.
MISSION
A) To create awareness in consumers regarding.
i) Their actual needs.
ii) Selection of products according to their requirement.
iii) The information given on the wrappers or lables of the products.
iv) Consumers rights and responsibilities.
B) To protect the rights of the Consumers Under Consumer Protection Act.
C) To Unite the Consumers.
OBJECTIVES
To enrich the quality of life through sustainable consumption, to educate consumers, to create awareness and thus to empower them to fight against injustice.
VISION
To Establish Sovereignty of Consumers by bringing together large number of people for a common cause and fight against injustice in order to protect the interest of Consumers.
MISSION STATEMENT
“Grahak Hitay, Grahak Sukhay” For welfare and satisfaction of the consumers.
MGP in Nutshell
- Established in the year 1975 on Gudhi Padwa (Hindu New Year.)
- Largest Membership of more than 33,000 families.
- More than 120,000 satisfied consumers as beneficiaries through its
- unique, environment friendly distribution system.
- Offers about 95 essential and other commodities every month on “NoProfit, No Loss” basis.
- Largest number of voluntary activists (more than 3500).
- Largest participation of women volunteers.
- Financially, totally self-reliant, self sustainable organisation.
- Role Model for promoting Sustainable Consumption world over.
(Distribution Model adopted in Zimbabave)
- Emphasis on Ethical, Fair and Transparent Practice.
Introduction
Early 70's were the days of shortages and scarcity of all essential commodities in our country. Hoarding, Black Marketing, Cheating in rates as well as weights measurements and quality were very common. Consumers were being ruthlessly exploited. Society, in general, was upset. At such situation few volunteers from Pune and Mumbai like Late. Bindumadhav Joshi, Late Sudhir Phadke,Late P.W. Gadgil, Late Madhukar Mantri, Late Rambhau Barve, Late Vidyadhar Gokhale etc, came together to mobilize consumer movement and possibility for establishing a consumer organization. With their sustained efforts Mumbai Grahak Panchayat was established in year 1975 and registered in 1981 under
Charity Commission Act 1950 (Reg No. F7000). The basic idea was distribution of goods of essential house hold needs, to the organization members with collective buying on No Profit No Loss basis.
Though mission started with monthly distribution, founders wanted to make consumers in general, empowered by their rights and to establish their soverginity.
MGPs another uniqueness is largest number of voluntary activists including top management, and also largest participation of women volunteers.
This consistent growth is not the result of any aggressive marketing or publicity, but solely based on mouth to mouth publicity by the members & well-wishers.
MGP – Structure
Managing Committee comprises of 20 Members (including executive committee members)
Office Bearers:
Chairman - Adv.Shirish Deshpande
Vice Chairman - Smt. Anuradha Deshpande and Shri. Prabhakar Gawane
Secretary - Smt. Anita Khanolkar and Smt. Chhaya Warange
Treasurer - Shri. Ravindra Sahastrabuddhe
Committee Members
- Smt. Jyoti Modak
- Smt. Sheela Deolekar
- Shri. Rajendra Rane
- Smt. Shubhada Chaukar
- Smt. Anagha Acharekar
- Shri. Vinayak Soman
- Shri. Vijay Vagal
- Shri. Gajanan Vartak
- Shri. Vivek Kelkar
- Smt. Sharmila Ranade
- Shri. Alok Hardikar
- Shri. Abhay Joshi
- Shri. Parag Redkar
- Smt. Archana Pangaokar
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