The district residents, since April 2006 when Mohali was accorded the district status, were forced to approach the consumer forums in Ropar and Patiala to claim their consumer rights.

Though B S Mehndiratta, a retired district and sessions judge from Chandigarh, was appointed founder chairman of the forum in December, it took almost two months to create accommodation and infrastructure required for its functioning.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kairon said all consumer forums at district headquarters in Punjab will soon be go online.  The two new districts of Tarn Taran and Barnala will also get independent consumer forums shortly, he added.

Kairon, who also holds the portfolio of Food and Civil Supplies, said so far 13 lakh below poverty line (BPL) families in Punjab were taking benefit of subsidised wheat and cereals at Rs 4 and Rs 20 per kg respectively under the “atta dal” scheme while 2.5 lakh more BPL families will soon be covered under the scheme.