EDUCATION

Mixed response to computer education
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — The recent scheme of the state government to introduce computer education in government colleges of the state at nominal charges has received a mixed response in this city.

While at the Government College for Women more than 600 students are taking training from the computer centre run by NIIT, poor response has been received at S D Government College where only 60 students have taken admission in the course conducted by Tata Infotech.

One major reason why the government contractors at the Government College for Women have been able to draw a big lot is that the Principal has made it mandatory for all final year graduates to join the course.

‘‘All third year girls who do not take up the course were told to give written application clearly stating the reason why they do not want to take up the course. This rule has been formulated so that all graduates become computer literate and make full use of the opportunity. Most of the final year students who did not take up the course wrote that they had already taken a similar course very recently and, hence, they were exempted,’’ said Principal Ms Inderjit Gill.

It may also be mentioned that the NIIT centre is being run in the college from the last session. While last year it was functioning under a contract with the college, it is now being run under a government scheme. Since this year, the fee has been drastically reduced to Rs 125 per month, the number of students taking the course has increased manifold.

However, Dr S.S. Sooch, Principal, SD Government College, said that he did not make the course compulsory as he did not receive any such directions from the government.

In fact, most of the students at SD Government College are taking training from RICCS centre which is being run in the college for the past four years under a contract with the college. Tata Infotech which opened its centre early last month, thus, received a feeble response even though the charges were kept almost half those taken by the previous contractor at the college.

While stating the reasons for less response received at Tata Infotech centre, he said, ‘‘They came late and meanwhile all students interested in taking the course had joined RICCS. Now that they will be taking examination next month, the students are getting more serious about their studies.’’

DAV library induces reading habits
By Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, Nov 15 — The DAV School library is well stocked with 27,500 books on its shelves. The library subscribes to 40 journals and magazines that kindle interest of the students.

According to Japinderjit of Class XI the library has latest books for the competitive exams like IIT and MBBS. We also get DAV journal, Young World, a quarterly magazine, he said.

Ushagar, another student said, "I think, the children of our school read more books than other students. Right from Class I, the students are issued books and they are asked to read them. The reading habits are inculcated in them from childhood. So when they come to senior classes reading becomes a pleasure for them."

Anupam Dhingra said, "I second his opinion. We have regular library periods. Each student has to get one book issued and return it after a fortnight. On non-returning of book, a fine of Rs 2 is levied per day." Here, Japinder added, "Not only the students , but the teachers, too, have to read two books in a week. They have to read general knowledge books so that they can discuss current affairs with the children on the days when we have no assembly period."

There were a couple of students of Class XI enjoying reading in the library . Parampal was reading a Hardy Boys whereas Gaurav Khanna was interested in Flying Machines. Some others were reading books like Limca Book of Records and Science encyclopedia. Japinder further informed that course books on all the subjects were kept in the cupboards but the fiction books were kept in open shelves. The books were easily accessible to the children and most of the children spoken to, showed enthusiasm for reading.

Conference on pharmacology
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — The Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, will organise National Conference of Indian Society of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology and a symposium from December 6 to 8. 

COURTS

Water purifier company told to refund amount
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum today directed M/s Gauri Marketing Company Limited, Gurdev Nagar here, to refund an amount of Rs 5,842 along with interest of 12 per cent per annum to a resident of a colony near Cheema Chowk for supplying a sub-standard water purifier to him.

The Forum decided the matter in the favour of the consumer, as the service cards of the company provided requisite evidence that the water-purifier was not working properly. While the consumer had demanded compensation from the company for to the faulty water purifier, the company counter-alleged that the consumer had not paid the amount and was making false complaints.

According to a copy of the orders received here today, the complainant, Balwinder Singh, had contended before the Forum, that he was residing in one of the polluted areas in the industrial hub of the city. He purchased a water purifier from M/s Gauri Marketing in October last year, with a one year guarantee against any defect. However, the assurances proved illusory as the purifier supplied contaminated water.

The company, however, pleaded that the purifier was not defective and the complainant was making false allegations in order to extract money from the company. The company submitted documents saying that the complainant had not deposited all the installments. The company also submitted a service card which stated that the complainant was satisfied with the service.

However, the Forum found that the service card did not bear the signatures of the complainant. The Forum also found that the service card showed entries of several visits of the company’s mechanic to the consumer’s residence. It reached the conclusion that a mechanic would visit the house only if the water purifier was faulty and hence the contention of the consumer was upheld.

It directed the company to refund an amount of Rs 5,842, along with on interest of 12 per cent per annum from January 30, 2000 and costs of Rs 500 to the complainant.

PSEB told to refund Rs 60,000
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Nov 15 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here today quashed a bill amount of about Rs 61,000, including surcharge, wrongly raised by the PSEB against a resident of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar here. The PSEB has also been directed to pay a compensation of Rs 7000 to the consumer for deficiency in service.

The complainant Rajinder Singh Cheema, an Executive Engineer in the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, had complained that in March this year he received a bill of Rs 63,772 even though he had paid all bills in the previous years. He demanded compensation for harassment and deficiency in service.

The PSEB in its reply said that the meter of the consumer had remained dead from 1991 to 1997 and he was thus charged on average consumption.

The forum after listening to both parties found that even though the PSEB has calculated the bill on the average consumption, it cannot escape responsibility for keeping a meter dead for such a long period.

It said this amounts to clear deficiency of service. The forum also found the calculation of bill made by the PSEB as wrong.

It said the PSEB cannot burden the consumer and allow to get benefits of their own faults. It said the payments made by the consumer should also be adjusted and the PSEB should not charge any rent for the period in which the meter remained dead.