SA delegation in PAU
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 11
A delegation from South Africa, headed by Prof G.M. Nkondo, Vice- Chancellor and Principal, University of Venda for Science and Technology, visited various departments of Punjab Agricultural University and the farm of Mr Diljan Singh at Gopalpur. They also met the Vice-Chancellor, the Dean and directors of the varsity.

While welcoming them, Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, said high-yielding varieties and technologies developed by PAU scientists led to the Green Revolution. “But now the university is laying emphasis on integrated farming as majority of the farming community of Punjab has low land holdings. In Punjab, dairy is a subsidiary occupation. Almost every farmer has dairy besides farming which provides regular income”, he said.

Dr J.S. Kolar, Director, Extension Education, PAU, said the university had a very good extension system which reaches all farmers. While answering their questions, he said our scientists had developed good rapport with the farmers. “Every technology developed by our scientists is tested at farmers’ place for gaining their confidence. Then after modifications it is disseminated amongst the farmers. Besides, the university also has collaboration with the Agriculture Department and various departments of the state. The university reaches the masses through magazines, newspapers, radio and TV”, he said.

Professor Nkondo was impressed with the research and extension system of the university. He said: “We would like to have a memorandum of understanding with the PAU.”

Dr Aulakh agreed for exchange of scientists and students.

EDUCATION

Painting contest on traffic rules
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 11
The Ludhiana Traffic Police organised an on-the-spot painting contest for school and college students at Police Lines here today.

Over 400 students from 13 schools and three colleges participated in the contest. Students up to Class VIII were told to make any slogan or any painting on traffic rules. Class IX and X students were told to paint scenes on traffic regulation or operation or any related topic of their choice.

Students from Government College for Women, Khalsa College for Women and Ramgarhia Girls College were given three topics, “Caught by the traffic police”, “Traffic police control at intersections” and “Overcrowded bus caught in a traffic jam”.

Mr Arun Pal Singh, SP (Traffic), said that the contest was organised as part of the traffic week celebrations. He said that an exhibition of the painting made by the students would be organised at Children’s Traffic Park, Model Town, from tomorrow onwards. Besides, a mobile exhibition of posters on traffic rules would be organised during the week.

Lohri celebrations
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 11
Lohri was celebrated at Lovely Lotus Play School here today. Children stood around the fire and asked for Lohri from their teachers. They threw “til” in the fire, saying, “Eeshwar aa, dalidar ja, dalidar di jar chooleh paa.”

A school press release issued here said the children made a resolution for New Year by promising to be hardworking and active.

Spice Telecom penalised
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 11
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Spice Telecommunication Limited, Mohali, to pay Rs 5,000 on account of deficient services to a city resident Mr Rakesh Kumar. The forum has also directed the company to pay Rs 500 as cost of litigation to the complainant.

According to the complaint, the consumer was a subscriber to a mobile phone (98140-44482) and he had deposited Rs 1000 for getting the facility of ''roaming service with STD'' on April 24, 2000. The representative of the complainant, Mr S.D. Nagpal, stated before the forum that the consumer carried the mobile phone with him when he visited Shimla with his family in April last year and while returning to Ludhiana some defect developed in his car at about 11.30 p.m. He further sated that at that time of crisis when the consumer tried to contact his brother on his mobile phone who was at Ludhiana at that time, the call could not be made as the outgoing call facility had been withdrawn.

It was alleged that it was clear deficiency on the part of the company to withdraw the facility despite realising all charges from the consumer. Mr Nagpal stated that the consumer received a bill for Rs 1,025 on March 31, 2001, for the period from March 1 to 31 which was payable by April 2 and he deposited Rs 2,500 through a cheque dated April 10.

Mr Nagpal pointed out that despite paying for the ''roaming facility with STD'', the consumer could not contact his brother at the time of crisis. He further stated that due to this act of the company, the consumer suffered great mental tension and agony and the respondent should pay Rs 50,000 on account of compensation and litigation charges to him.

The Spice company pleaded that the mobile phone was activated on December 12, 2000, having the credit limit of Rs 3,491 and the outgoing calls were barred after 20 days of the demand of the due amount on April 29, 2001. The respondent further stated that the services were withdrawn even after three months of non-payment of dues.

The respondent disclosed that on July 30, 2001, even after adjusting the security of Rs 3,000, an amount of Rs 2929.35 was outstanding. Moreover, while depositing Rs 1,000, the complainant did not mention his account number nor he mentioned the bank where he deposited the amount, the respondent added.

The respondent stated that if the consumer had deposited the amount, it must have been credited to its account. It was stated that there was no deficiency on the part of company as it was a lapse on the part of the consumer who did not pay bills in time. The respondent prayed for the dismissal of the complaint.

The forum observed that the outgoing call facility was barred by the company on April 26, 2001, and a notice to the consumer for barring the facility was issued on May 4, 2001. The forum stated that the company withdrawn the facility even before giving the notice to the complainant which is wrong on the part of the company. Moreover, according to the documents produced by the consumer, he had deposited Rs 2,500 with Punjab National Bank in favour of the company on April 10, 2001, against the bill for Rs 1,052.42 issued on March 31, 2001.

The forum stated that the consumer had paid all dues and never exceeded credit limit, but the company barred the outgoing call facility without even serving any notice. The forum held that there was clear deficiency in the service on the part of the company.