Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan was speaking on occassion of National Consumer Day.
On occasion of National Consumer Day, Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has claimed that the consumer ministry is the most neglected, at the Union and state level.
Mr Paswan, who is the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, added that consumer courts are expected to face a "flood" of cases once the Parliament passes the Consumer Protection Bill. He urged the state governments to adequately assist these courts.
"I had told the Prime Minister in the first meeting that we have 1.23 crore population and all are consumers. But the department has been most neglected - be it at Centre or state level," Mr Paswan said at an event in New Delhi.
He further lauded consumer courts in their efforts to dispose 41 lakh cases in the last 30 years despite lack of infrastructure facilities and vacancies.
"But, the number is still less. There are two-three reasons. One is that the posts to fill 200 members are still lying vacant. There is no adequate infrastructure provided and salary is also an issue," he said.