RIGHT TO REPAIR | IAS GYAN

Copyright infringement not intended

In News

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution have set up a committee to develop a comprehensive framework for 'Right to Repair’.
- The Committee is chaired by Nidhi Khare.

Background

Normally the manufacturers maintain control over the supply of spare parts, including their design.
The Union government has raised concern over this, and stated that this kind of monopoly on repair processes violates the customer's "right to choose".
Warranty cards of many products highlight that products repaired from the outside would not be recognised by the makers and the customers would also lose their warranty benefit.

Details

Recently, the committee for ‘Right to Repair’ held its first meeting where essential sectors for 'Right to Repair' were identified.
- The members have discussed key issues including farming equipment, mobile phones/ tablets, consumer durables and automobiles/automobile equipment were listed out.
They raised concern over various issues including;
- Several Companies avoid the publication of manuals that can help users to make repairs easily.
- Manufacturers have control over spare parts.
- Monopoly on repair parts and processes violates the customer's "right to choose".
They discussed various international practices and steps that have been taken by other countries.
The Committee has given many suggestions including:
- Companies should provide complete knowledge and access to manuals, and software updates.
- The parts and tools of devices should be made available to third parties, including individuals so that the product can be repaired in case of minor issues.
The Committee highlighted that once “Right to Repair” is adopted in India, it will become a "game-changer" for the sustainability of the products and also promote employment generation.

Right to Repair

The core value behind the 'Right to Repair' is that when customers buy a product, they own it completely, and they have the right to repair and modify the product with ease and at a reasonable cost, without being dependent on the manufacturers.
The objective is to empower consumers, coordinate trade between the original equipment manufacturers and the third-party buyers and sellers, and reduce e-waste.
The ‘Right to Repair’ has been recognised in many countries, including the US, UK and European Union