The Minister of State for Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Prof. K.V. Thomas has called for strengthening the consumer movement in the country. Addressing a function organized on the eve of National Consumer Day in New Delhi on Wednesday Prof. Thomas said that consumer movement in the country is weak and they are not aware of their rights. He said that panchayati raj institutions can play a great role in spreading consumer awareness related programme in the rural areas. He said that the Department of Consumer Affairs has recently undertaken a joint publicity campaign with Reserve Bank of India to spread information about fate notes and mobile banking among consumers.