Dijo Kappan, social activist who championed consumer rights, passes away

Dijo Kappan, veteran social activist and a powerhouse for consumer rights in Kerala, passed away at the age of 68 at Pala in Kottayam on Friday. He breathed his last at a private hospital in Pala where he had been undergoing treatment after being injured in a car accident in October last year in Thiruvananthapuram.

Widely regarded as a persistent advocate for the public and an anti-corruption crusader, Kappan was known for his activism focusing on consumer rights and awareness. He was a strong voice for road accident victims, fighting for smoother and more transparent insurance claim processes.

Advertisement

In 1988, Kappan founded the Centre for Consumer Education which aimed at protection of the rights of consumers and farmers. He had led several legal battles in his capacity as the trustee of the Centre. He led numerous Public Interest Litigations (PILs) against electricity tariff hikes, road tax revisions, waste management crisis in Kochi and inconveniences caused by display of advertisement boards on public roads.

Before dedicating himself fully to consumer rights, Kappan had a significant career in Kerala’s political landscape. He was the State President of the KSC, the student wing of the Kerala Congress . He was the General Secretary of University Students’ Union of University of Kerala in 1982. He left active politics in 1998. Since then he has been active in the public sphere, fighting for road safety and consumer rights.