The genesis of Grahak Peth lies in the Grahak Panchayat founded by Dr. B. R. Sabde in the year 1974 in collaboration with his young associate, Shri Suryakant Pathak. The Grahak Panchayats have made use of the rights and protection given to consumers by the various government agencies and legislation and have a primarily relied on constructive and organized mobilization of consumers. This movement proceeded on the basis that the consumer is at the center of all economic activity. He is the prime mover of the business and also its main capital. The welfare economy can come into reality only when business and industry become consumer- oriented. This consumer movement did not simply aim at obtaining goods and services at reasonable prices. It has tried to spread the message that there is no contradiction between the interests of consumers and producers, traders, farmers, employees and employers. Let everyone focus on delivering to the consumer, the full return of money he spends. This is the way of harmony and not conflict, To strive to satisfy the consumers to strive for anon-exploitative economy.
Shri Suryakant Pathak handled several responsibilities of this fledgling organization with dedication and hard work. His experience of handling the distribution system of the Panchayat culminated in the founding of a full-fledged Departmental Stores, the GRAHAK PETH- inaugurated on the holy day of Ramnavami in 1977(10th April) of which he became the Managing Director.

Model of harmonious relationship :

The Grahak Peth of Pune run by the Janata Grahak Madhyawarti Sahakari Sangh. It is registered under Maharashtra Co-Operative Society Act vide Regd.No. P.N.A./CONS/27/ Date : 03.10.1975. At the beginning there are 125 Members but now Members are more then 3200.
is not merely a co- operative departmental store, content to simply make goods available to the members across the counter. It actively seeks to identify the problems faced by consumers with regard to their daily requirements and work out solutions in collaboration with producers so as to deliver satisfaction to the consumers.Thus the Grahak Peth has become a model of harmonious relationship of a consumer-producer dyad.