History

History of Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) was founded on March 15, 1989 – World Consumer Rights Day – at CFTRI Hall, Mysore. The founding was inspired by the Consumer Protection Act of 1987 and the global consumer rights movement championed by Ralph Nader.

The Beginning

The founder, who had returned to India after working in the United States (at Conoco, with a PhD from the University of Houston and an engineering degree from IIT Madras), chose Mysore as the base for this consumer rights organisation. The city’s university environment provided access to students who could be mobilised for civic causes.

Dr. H.A.B. Parpia, the former Director of the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), was one of the earliest and most influential supporters of MGP. His guidance helped shape the organisation’s direction in its formative years.

Early Milestones

One of MGP’s earliest campaigns was a protest march against leaded petrol. Although only five people turned up for that march, one of them – Prof. Ananthswamy – went on to become a future President of MGP, illustrating how small beginnings can lead to lasting impact.

The inaugural meeting was held without any chief guest, setting the tone for an organisation that valued substance over ceremony. Registrations took place at the CFTRI hall, and from those humble beginnings, MGP grew into one of Mysore’s most respected civic organisations.

Areas of Impact

Over the decades, MGP has engaged with numerous government bodies and public institutions:

  • Police and Traffic authorities
  • Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB)
  • Mysore City Corporation
  • Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA)
  • Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
  • KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation)
  • District Commissioner’s office
  • Regional Transport Office (RTO)
  • CESCOM (Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation)
  • Forest Department
  • Consumer Courts
  • Education institutions
  • Indian Railways (South Western Railway)
  • Postal Department
  • K.R. Hospital

Allied Organisations

MGP’s work has expanded through several allied organisations:

  • Parisara – The environmental wing
    Parisara was a separate wing started soon after MGP started to function to promote environmental protection. This was driven almost exclusively by a new engineering graduate Prasad who went around the city to identify any vacant government land (DC’s house, TB sanitarium, Railway colonies, land around Lalith Mahal Road and promoted planting of trees with the help of Forest department. Thanks to the full cooperation of the then Conservator of Forest Dr. Kushalappa, it was a great success.
  • CERC Trust – Consumer Education and Research Center trust
    CERC – Center for Consumer Education and Research Center trust was started by Dr. H A B Parpia along with Dr.Bhamy V Shenoy. Idea behind the trust was to ensure that it will serve to raise funds to promote consumer and environmental movement instead of MGP to ensure it will not be misused. Most such NGOs at that time were Trusts and MGP also felt that there is a need for such a trust.However later it was closed down by transferring its assets mostly funded by Parpia and Shenoy to MGP.
  • MLSA – The political awareness wing
    MLSA stands for Mysuru Lok Swaraj Andolana. To promote good governance it was felt pessary that Mysuru needs an NGO to support those professionals who are interested to contest election. It was the time, there was a national movement called Lok Swaraj Andolana and MLSA was started more or less as local chapter. In 1994 general election MLSA sponsored Dr. Shenoy from Chamaraja Constituency and Dr. Dwaraki from Krishnaraj Constituency. Later it sponsored five independents to contest in Corporation election for which Dr. Shenoy channeled money he had raised during the earlier MLA election. Unfortunately later because of a rebel group filing a case against the office bearers, MLSA under the leadership of Maj-Gen Karumbaya closed down. Funds with MLSA could not be transferred and was lost.
  • Mysore Youth Forum (MYF) – Engaging young people in civic participation
    Mysuru Youth Forum was started by college graduates seeking guidance from MGP. It was inspired by a similar movement in Bengaluru where youths were taking up the work of cleaning roads and painting where needed. MYF in Mysuru also took up such cleaning task besides planting trees. However after two years with the transfer of members from Mysuru, it closed down.

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