My Ode to Reality

Today, being World Consumer Rights Day, and I having worked on the beat of Consumer Forum, during my stint as a Reporter, I wish to highlight a few observations regarding Consumer-rights.. 1. Caveat Emptor (Let The Buyer Beware) always applies, no matter what the product or service.. 2. In countries where Consumer is (treated like the) King, for example, in the U.S.A., the customer is rightly empowered and given his/her due.. Even in case of a service-deficiency or a bad/damaging product, people have sued the said company, and got compensations ranging from few thousand bucks to lakhs of them.. No organization gets away with malpractices W.R.T. utility, pricing or after-effects of stuff that it sells.. 3. Capitalism, Consumerism, or Material-wealth, they have been adopted to serve a specific purpose by developed nations, and that is, to raise the standard of living of its people, and to allow optimum utilization of its populace's faculties.. While socialist/welfare-state kind of po...

On World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation, I urge everybody to follow some basic steps to remain safe, inside their residence and otherwise.. 1. Message cab-details/Cabbie-information to family everytime you step out.. 2. Do not drink (or eat) anything offered by strangers, as it could be spiked and you could be an easy prey to the predators.. 3. Carry Swiss-knife/Chilli Spray/Pepper Spray in your bag, always.. 4. Learn martial-arts for self-defence, and make your kids learn it, too.. 5. Eat well; be strong and full of agility, stamina.. 6. Keep a list of important contacts in your phone/bag handy, just in case.. 7. Life insurance, Mediclaim are not optional; they are the highest Return-on-Investment form of your expenses.. 8. Drive carefully; do not let your odhni/dupatta sway in the air while you are riding your two-wheeler.. Wear helmet always.. 9. God forbid, in case of an emergency, think on your feet, and decide your course of action as quickly as possible.. 10. Keep your...