The Indian Bureau of Standards (IBS) is actively contemplating making ready standards on shared economy, confirmed senior officials from the Consumer Affairs Ministry. They additionally stated that the IBS is contemplating standards revealed by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) for adoption in India.
Over time, the standards will cowl sectors reminiscent of meals aggregators, cab aggregators, on-line healthcare providers and others. “It is planned to ultimately cover all the sectors like food aggregators, cab aggregator, online health services etc, in future, but currently following standard published by ISO/TC 324 is under consideration for adoption as the Indian Standard,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution stated in an e-mail response to Business Standard.
Shared economy predominantly covers segments like shared mobility (Ola/Uber), co-working (Awfis, WeWork), co-living (OYO, StanzaLiving and many others), furnishings rental (Furlenco, and many others).
The ISO/TC 324 covers points reminiscent of high quality of merchandise and the time-frame inside which they’re delivered, privateness safeguards, breaches to knowledge safety and unauthorised knowledge sharing, issues associated to frauds and scams and difficulties related to making complaints and getting redressal.
Asked if India can also be giving inputs to ISO on popping out with world standards, he stated: “Under Business Services Sectional Committee, SSD 09, a subcommittee on Sharing Economy, namely subcommittee on sharing economy, SSD 09:2 has been constituted with the following scope: Standardisation in the field of sharing economy, and Coordination with the work of ISO/TC 324 – ‘Sharing Economy’ as Participating(P) member including voting on ISO documents.”
The want for standardisation additionally arises from the growing variety of complaints the patron affairs ministry has been receiving recently. Recently the Ministry of Consumers Affairs introduced that it’ll quickly create a framework for ‘proper of restore’ in India, for which it has arrange an knowledgeable panel.
According to a latest survey by LocalCirles on the necessity for higher after-sales providers, it was discovered that 43 per cent of Indian households in a survey had three or extra gadgets at residence that had been lower than 5 years previous and wanted providers or restore. Some causes for not getting these merchandise repaired was failure of the model to ship, and the excessive value of getting service or restore, amongst others.
“This is a positive move. Standards are of great relevance especially at this time. We have escalated three recommendations from India from an international standpoint as well. These include cap on surge pricing, disincentive for drivers to cancel rides and hygiene and sanitisation of shared spaces which include shared taxis,” Sachin Taparia, founding father of LocalCircles stated.
He added, “We hope these standards will apply not only in India but many foreign nations will adopt them as well.”