UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
B.Sc. Degree Course in Nutrition Food Service Management and Dietetics
SEMESTER SYSTEM WITH CREDITS
(Effective from the Academic Year 2003-2004)

SYLLABUS

Semester VI - Application Oriented Subject II - Consumer Education

Number of Lectures: 6
Duration of Examination: 3 hrs
Maximum Marks: 100
Credits: 4

Theory 6 Hours / Week

OBJECTIVES

1. Develop good buymanship in the selection of goods in the market

2. Gain knowledge on the responsibilties of an enlightened consumer.

3. Understand the importance of communication for consumer education.

THEORY

1. Consumer and consumer buying practices - Definition of a consumer, producer, market and their interrelationship - Elements of better buymanship - The process of consumer decision making - what, when, whom and how much to buy.

2. Consumer problems - Business malpractices, faulty weights, adulteration, lack of safety and quality control measures, inflation, misleading advertisement, misbranding, deceptive labelling and packing.

3. Consumer Education - objectives, scopes, advantages.

4. Consumerism - Definition and need - Consumer protection - Consumer rights and responsibilities - need for protection - legislation, quality control - Agmark, FPO, and lSl - Role of consumer co-operatives.

5. Consumer credit - types - advantages and disadvantages.

6. Consumer movement - role objectives - consumer in India.

7. Communication for consumer education - meaning and scope, elements, models, process and barriers of communication. Importance of communication in consumer education. Methods of communication - individual, group and mass.

8. Audio visual aids - Selection anduse of visual aids, audio aids and audio visual aids. Use folk media for consuer education.

9. COMMUNICATION -

skill, development and creation of appropriate environment for effective communication - relationship building, adding credibility to messages.

PRACTICALS

1. Preparation of consumer education aids for local use.

2. Visit to a consumer court.

3. Study of labels for adequacy of information.

REFERENCE

1. Reddy, A.A. (1978). Extension Education. Bapatla, Sri Lakshmi Press.

2. Dhama, O.P. and Bhatnagar, O.P. (1980). Education and Communication for Development. New Delhi, Oxford Publishing Co.

3. Sherlekar, S.A. (1984). Trade Practices and Consumerism. Bombay, Himalaya Publishing House.

4. Sethi, M and Seetharaman, P. (1994). Consumerism - A Growing Concept. New Delhi, Phoenix publishing House.

5. Kumar, N. (1999). Consumer Protection in India. New Delhi, Himalaya Publishing House.

6. Miller, R.L. and Stafford, A.D. (2001). Economic Issues for Consumers. California, Belmont Wood-worth Publishers.