The Ahmedabad-based Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) celebrated National Consumer Day 2025 with a significant strategic overhaul. The event, held at the Ahmedabad Management Association, showcased the organization's refreshed identity and forward-looking initiatives aimed at empowering modern consumers.
New Identity and Digital Push
Marking a new chapter in its legacy, CERC unveiled a completely new logo and a revamped official website. This rebranding effort symbolizes the organization's commitment to evolving with the times and reaching a broader, more digitally-savvy audience. The refreshed online platform is designed to be more user-friendly, providing easier access to vital consumer information and resources.
Focus on Youth and Digital Grievance Redressal
The chief guest for the event, Mona Khandhar, IAS, delivered a keynote address emphasizing Gujarat's progressive, digital-first approach to consumer protection. She specifically highlighted the state's e-Jagriti portal, a centralized digital platform for consumer grievance redressal, and extensive public awareness campaigns. Khandhar commended these efforts for making the process of resolving complaints more transparent, efficient, and accessible to all citizens.
Aligning with this vision for the future, CERC placed a strong emphasis on engaging the younger generation. The organization launched new youth-led research initiatives and released a series of research papers prepared by its students and interns. These papers tackle a range of emerging consumer challenges in today's fast-paced market, from digital fraud to sustainable consumption.
Charting the Future of Consumer Advocacy
The strategic reset by CERC on National Consumer Day signals a pivotal shift towards more dynamic and inclusive consumer advocacy. By integrating a modern digital presence with ground-level research driven by young minds, the organization is positioning itself to address contemporary issues more effectively. The event underscored a collaborative model where government digital infrastructure, like the e-Jagriti portal, and proactive non-profit work converge to create a more robust safety net for consumers across Gujarat and beyond.
The initiatives unveiled set a clear roadmap for CERC's mission in the coming years, focusing on education, empowerment, and leveraging technology for justice.
