In the inaugural session of Northern Regional Consumer Convention (NRCC) organized by the Consumer Coordination Council, Additional Chief Secretary Prem Kumar stresses upon the importance of empowering the consumers said that awareness among consumers was very important for smart purchases. The theme of the Conference was ‘Consumer Education – A need of today and e-prescription of drugs ’. Additional Chief Secretary said that Consumer education was important because it encouraged individuals to analyze and make value-based decisions in terms of purchases. He said that it enabled consumers to use information in order to make confident and informed purchasing decisions. It was also important that consumers should recognize and understand the role of consumer rights while buying goods or services and the organizations that provide consumer help and advice, he added. Prem Kumar said that e-prescription of drugs was also an effective step towards preventing malpractices and added that computerized prescriptions would ensure accuracy besides facilitating the patients. He assured the Council that its recommendations would be looked into by taking all aspects of public interest into account and necessary steps would be initiated at Government level accordingly. A.L.Saha, Chairman, Consumer Coordination Council while delivering the presidential address, said that Consumer education was concerned with the skills, attitudes and knowledge required for living in a consumer society and added that it generated awareness about the basic skills necessary for living. He said that it promoted an understanding of the structures and systems within the market and how individual consumer habits could affect the economy, environment and the society. This knowledge leads to empowerment of consumers, he added. Dr Sunil Prakash, Chairman, NRCC welcomed the Additional Chief Secretary and other participants. He suggested that the Government should start consumer education in schools as well as a degree course at college level to produce ‘consumerists’ in the country who could guide the industries and also the consumers. S.D.Bhardwaj, President, Himachal Upbhogta Sanrakshan Parishad detailed out the activities of the Parishad and also proposed vote of thanks. Doctors, educationists, representatives of various NGOs from various states and officers of various departments of the State Government participated in the Conference.