Consumer court fines bank 3 lakh for seizing client’s car

NEW DELHI: Nataranjan Bahidar had done it right for the most part. He’d taken a car loan, paid most of it through ECS (electronic clearing service) and wished to pay the remaining instalments by cheque. With only five more to go, his car was seized by “goons” and sold almost immediately. The consumer court, however, does not approve of the use of hired muscle to seize property.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (New Delhi), ruled that the consumer “was not fraudulent in any manner or …escaping from payment” and that the bank “has acted negligently, in the facts of the case, to deserve punitive damages.” The court has directed the bank to pay Bahidar Rs 3 lakh “as damages for loss and harassment” and another Rs 25,000 for litigation expenses.
Bahidar had taken the bank loan from Citi Bank in 2000, agreed to pay through ECS (electronic clearing service) and paid all, but nine of 59 EMIs through it. Apparently, he had given “irrevocable authority” to the bank to recover loan through ECS but for the last nine, wanted to pay by cheque and directed his own bank to block further transfers. Citi Bank first issued him a notice but later accepted cheque payments for the next four instalments. With five EMIs to go, it issued a “loan recall letter” and asked the customer to deposit the outstanding amount with later charges and then decided to repossess the car. On June 15, 2005, four-five recovery agents caught Bahidar in transit and seized his car “by robbery mode.” The bank sent a “pre-sale notice” the next day (June 16) with a notice to clear dues within a week but actually sold the vehicle for Rs 50,000. It did all this despite having nine “undated” cheques from the customer as security and also denied having received any instruction to stop the use of ECS. It argued that the switching over to cheques was in breach of the original agreement with customer.
Source from TOI and posted by Consumer Voice

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In November, Johnson & Johnson released

In November, Johnson & Johnson released a statement saying it will reformulate all of its baby products worldwide to remove a formaldehyde-releasing preservative.US Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) has called for reformulation of a baby shampoo to remove quaternium-15 (a chemical that releases formaldehyde, a known carcinogen), the company was still using the ingredients in the United States, Canada, and China, while making formaldehyde-free versions of the shampoo.The CSC is a coalition of 150 non-profit organizations campaigning to remove toxic chemicals from cosmetics.by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

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Indian Kitchen Remedies For All Diseases

Cinnamon

Colds

Mix a gram of cinnamon powder with a teaspoon of honey to cure cold. Prepare a cup of tea to which you should add ginger, clove, bay leaf and black pepper... This should be consumed twice a day.. Reduce the intake as the cold disappears.

Ginger tea is very good to cure cold. Preparation of tea: cut ginger into small pieces and boil it with water, boil it a few times and then add sugar to sweeten and milk to taste, and drink it hot.

Cure For All Diseases

Mix 1 teaspoon honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and have it at night.

Carom

Blocked Nose

For blocked nose or to relieve congestion, take a table spoon of crushed carom seeds and tie it in a cloth and inhale it.

Asthma
Boil carmon seeds  in water and inhale the steam.

Cumin Seeds

Sore Throat

Add a tea spoon of cumin seeds   and a few small pieces of dry ginger to a glass of boiling water. Simmer it for a few minutes, and then let it cool. Drink it twice daily. This will cure cold as well as sour throat.

Ginger

Backache

Rub ginger paste on the backache to get relief.

Garlic

High Blood Pressure

Have 1-2 pod garlic first thing in the morning with water. Or mix 1 table spoon and 1 tablespoon ginger juice, 1 table spoon of crushed cumin seeds, and have it twice daily.

Pepper

Migraine

For the cure of migraine or acute cold in the head; boil a tablespoon of pepper powder, and a pinch of turmeric in a cup of milk, and have it daily for a few couple of days.

Mustard Oil

Cramps

You must do a self-massage using mustard oil every morning. Just take a little oil between your palms and rub it all over your body. Then take a shower. This is especially beneficial during winter. You could also mix a little mustard powder with water to make a paste and apply this on your palms and soles of your feet.

Almonds

Headaches

If you have a regular migraine problem, include five almonds along with hot milk in your daily diet. You could also have a gram of black pepper along with honey or milk, twice or thrice a day. Make an almond paste by rubbing wet almonds against a stone. This can be applied to forehead.

Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its wonderful effects. Or when headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in water and apply it all over your forehead.

Lemon

Hiccups

Take a warm slice of lemon and sprinkle salt, sugar and black pepper on it. The lemon should be eaten until the hiccups stop.

Turmeric

Dry Coughs

Add a gram of turmeric powder to a teaspoon of honey for curing dry cough. Also chew a cardamom for a long time.

Arthritis
Turmeric can be used in treating arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory property. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

Heart

Turmeric lower cholesterol and by preventing the formation of the internal blood clots  improves circulation and prevents heart disease and stroke. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems.. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

Indigestion
Turmeric can be used to relieve digestive problems like ulcers, dysentery. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

Injuries

For any cut or wound, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a bandage after applying  turmeric.

Those just might be tears of joy as you say goodbye to your arthritis pain with fresh onions. A natural painkiller and inflammation-fighter, the onion is a star player in The Arthritis Healing Diet for its many compounds that soothe arthritis pain.

Onions

Inflammation

Onions relieve inflammation. Onions are loaded with sulfur compounds that significantly drive down inflammation and reduce pain by inhibiting the enzymes directly responsible for joint inflammation. Sulfur is a critical component of both healthy cartilage and healthy joints, yet when analyzing the amount of sulfur in the fingernails of arthritis patients, researchers found that they have far less of this important mineral than people who didn’t have arthritis. Sulfur compounds also contain positive immunostimulant properties, which is important for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because it is an autoimmune disease.

Arthiritis Relief

The onions that make you weep offer maximum arthritis pain relief. The strongest onions contain the most phenols and flavonoids, thus providing the greatest anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Researchers found that the Western Yellow variety of onion contains 11 times more flavonoids than the Western White. Shallots have even more antioxidant activity, so mince these tiny onion-ettes into everything from salads to omelets.

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Winter Health: Dry Skin

A dry skin problem can be uncomfortable during winters. Your skin might feel tight and painful; it might look dull or red or flaky – a dry skin problem can be more than just a superficial issue, experts say.

There are lots of good reasons to do something about your dry, itchy skin — your looks, your health, and your sanity. So its time to figure out what’s really causing your dry skin problem.

For many, dry skin is not a sign of a skin condition or disease, but is simply caused by harsh soaps, itchy clothing, misusing moisturizer, and long, hot showers. But the medications you take — and even medical conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, and malnutrition — can also cause severe dry skin.

Understanding Dry Skin
Let’s start with some skin basics. Normal, healthy skin is coated in a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. They keep in moisture, leaving the skin soft and supple.
What causes dry skin — something in the environment — or something you’re doing to your skin — what is stripping away these fatty oils, leaving your skin unprotected. Less often, the cause is internal; a health condition or genetic predisposition which makes your skin dry out.
While patches of dry, itchy skin can appear anywhere, it’s most common on the arms, hands, lower legs, and abdomen. Dry skin is often felt more than it’s seen, but on some people it can be noticeable and embarrassing.
If untreated, dry skin can sometimes lead to dermatitis — inflammation of the skin — swelling, and infection. The good news is that just as most causes of dry skin are external, most cures for dry skin are external. With careful dry skin care, you can usually solve the problem.

Dry Skin Problem: Misusing Moisturizer
If you’ve been contending with dry skin, you’ve probably already tried a moisturizer — if not dozens. But while moisturizers are a crucial part of dry skin care, experts say that we don’t always use them very well.
The biggest mistake we make is applying moisturizer on dry skin, when it’s least likely to help. “You have to put on moisturizer when your skin is still damp -that way, the moisturizer is traps the moisture still on your skin. Your skin shouldn’t be sopping wet — just pat yourself dry with a towel and put it on. Let it soak in for a few minutes, and then towel off the excess.
You’ve also got to get the right type of moisturizer. Experts recommend that people with dry skin get mild moisturizers that have no perfumes or alcohols.
“Dry air is probably the most common cause of dry skin, especially during the winter, which draws the moisture right out of the skin. Dry skin during winter even gets its own name: winter itch.
While cold, harsh weather does dry your skin, another big problem in the winter lies indoors — the dry heat churned out by your room heaters/blowers. To counteract the dry heat, start with a moisturizer.
Other dry skin care tips include using a humidifier in your bedroom, and bundling up — with hats, scarves and gloves, when you’re outside.

Dry Skin Problem: Long, Hot Showers & Baths
Prolonged exposure to water — especially hot water — can wash away the natural oils that protect your skin. If you get out of the bath or shower and your skin feels tight, it’s dried out.
 So what should you do? First, choose showers over baths. limit showers to a few minutes and skip the hot water.
“The water doesn’t have to be cold, but it should be lukewarm rather than hot.
Afterward, pat your body dry with a towel — rather than vigorously rubbing it — and put on a moisturizer right away.

Dry Skin Problem: Soap
“One of the biggest problems people have with dry skin stems from their soap. Soap can quickly strip away your skin’s protective oils, if we use too much of it.
“The average person just doesn’t get very dirty during the day, the only parts of the body that need any soap or cleanser at all are the face, hands, feet, groin and underarms. The rest of the body can usually just be rinsed off with water.
While our doctors, mothers and now advertisers — always tell us to wash our hands frequently, that can also lead to trouble. Ironically, while done in the quest to rid ourselves of germs, excessive hand washing can dry out the skin and cause it to crack and bleed, making infection much more likely.
Many of us choose our soaps unwisely. We go for harsh soaps, such as deodorant or antibacterial soaps, that generate lots of lather and leave us feeling squeaky clean. “The bubbling and lathering from soap removes the oils from the surface of the skin and dries it out.
For dry skin care, look for milder, “fragrance-free” soaps. That’s not the same as “unscented,” which may still have perfumes. For many people with dry skin, the best choice is a mild skin cleanser rather than soap, experts say.
Whatever you do, don’t use any harsh implements to wash yourself. “People will get these incredibly abrasive sponges and brushes.

Dry Skin Problem: Itchy Clothing
Dry skin is especially sensitive to contact irritants, so continually exposing your skin to uncomfortable clothing could make your skin drier and itchier.
Go with clothes that feel comfortable the first time you put them on. “Instead of wool, choose cotton next to your skin. Make sure your clothing isn’t too tight either, since chafing can also cause and irritate dry skin. And remember, if your skin feels irritated, use detergents without perfumes or dyes.

Dry Skin Problem: Medications and Drugs
A number of medicines have the side effect of drying out the skin. They include drugs for
High blood pressure, like diuretics Acne and other skin conditions, like retinoids
If you notice the onset of a dry skin problem after starting a medication, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to help by changing the dose or switching the medication.

Dry Skin Problem: Medical Conditions
Usually, dry skin is caused by external factors. But sometimes, it can be a sign of something going on internally, whether it’s a natural physiologic change or an illness.
For instance, dry skin often develops when people get older, especially in women. “Changes in hormone levels can cause dry skin as we age,” says Petronic-Rosic. As many as 75% of people over 64 have dry skin. Other people, regardless of age, are simply genetically prone to dry skin.

A number of medical conditions can result in dry skin. Some of the more common of these medical causes are:

• Skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis. While they usually need direct treatment, careful use of moisturizers often helps.
  
• Diabetes. Fluctuations in glucose levels can lead to dehydration, and that dries the skin out. Given that diabetes can also slow healing and increase the risk of infections, it’s especially important for people with this condition to keep their skin healthy.
  
• Hypothyroidism. Low levels of thyroid hormone can reduce the amount of oil produced by your skin. As a result, skin becomes dry and rough and moisturizer is unlikely to help. Hypothyroidism is usually accompanied by other symptoms, like fatigue and weight gain, Kenet says. 
• Malnutrition. Not getting the nutrients you need can leave your skin dried out. One possible cause is an eating disorder.Other diseases, both minor and serious, can also cause dry skin problems. The best way to treat these cases of dry skin depends on the illness. Sometimes, getting medication for the underlying condition directly will resolve the dry skin. But in other cases, you might still need to follow some of the basic dry skin care tips outlined above. Ask your doctor for advice.
  
  Getting Help for Dry, Itchy Skin
  While dry skin can be a sign of these more serious health conditions, it’s usually nothing more than run-of-the-mill dry skin, but if your dry skin problem is making you miserable, it’s time to talk to a doctor. He or she can help you identify the causes and get you the treatment you need. Doctors can recommend medicine if you need it.

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Petrol prices lowered by Rs 1.85 per litre

New Delhi: India's fuel retailers Tuesday cut petrol prices by Rs 1.85 per litre, excluding state taxes and levies, which should make its price cheaper by Rs 2.22 per litre in the national capital from midnight, bringing welcome relief to vehicle owners. The move comes against the backdrop of some allies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and opposition parties alike criticising the move earlier this month by oil retailers to hike petrol prices by Rs 1.80 per litre.
However, IndianOil Corp (IOC), the largest of the three state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs), said a fall in global crude prices and the rupee remaining stable at 49.30 to a US dollar were the reasons it could bring down prices of petrol.

The last time prices were slashed was in January 2009.
Incidentally, in early November when OMCs announced a hike in petrol prices, the rupee was still hovering over 49 to a dollar.
"IndianOil reviews motor spirit prices on fortnightly basis and based on the review, fixes prices for the next fortnight. In keeping with this practice, IndianOil has reviewed the pricing cycle as prevalent in the last fortnight," the company said Tuesday.


"The review reveals that at the current prices, there will be an over-recovery of Rs.1.85 per litre. It has, therefore, been decided to revise the MS (motor spirit) prices downward by Rs.1.85 (excluding state taxes and levies) with effect from Nov 16," the company added.

The current and new petrol prices in the four metros are as under:
                           Old                New
New Delhi         Rs.68.64           Rs.66.42
Kolkata             Rs.73.15           Rs.70.84
Mumbai             Rs.73.81           Rs.71.47
Chennai            Rs.72.73           Rs.70.38

"This is some relief for the middle class. But petrol prices are still too high when you compare them to diesel. Government should bring it down further," said Ravi Ahuja, a 26-year-old sales executive with an FMCG firm.

OMCs, however, continue to incur under-recoveries on account of selling diesel, kerosene and cooking gas below their international prices. All the three fuels are still regulated by the government, compared to petrol which is sold at a de-regulated price.
"In case of diesel, the international prices have firmed up (a trend exactly opposite to petrol) during the fortnight and as a result, the under-recovery of the company on diesel has increased from Rs.8.58 to Rs.10.17 per litre," IOC said.
The under-recoveries on kerosene and cooking gas are Rs.25.66 per litre and Rs.260.50 per cylinder, respectively. The projected total under-recovery of IndianOil for 2011-12 (excluding petrol) is estimated to be over Rs.71,000 crore and for the OMCs together would be around Rs.1,30,000 crore.
However, economics notwithstanding,Trinamool Congress supreme and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday Welcomed the decision to cut petrol prices by Rs.1.85 per litre as a "positive step", and said she was very much concerned about the prices of cooking gas and kerosene.
"It is a positive step. We are happy about it," Banerjee told reporters.
Earlier this month, Trinamool -- the second largest ally of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) -- had threatened to pull out of the government over its dissatisfaction over repeated hike in petrol prices.
Giving a temporary reprieve to the Congress, Banerjee had then said her party would not stay with the central government if price of kerosene, diesel and cooking gas was raised yet again as the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was non-committal on the issue of further hike in the prices of petroleum products.

"We are very much concerned about the prices of domestic gas, kerosene and diesel," said Banerjee Tuesday.
The party meanwhile dubbed the decision to bring down the prices as the victory of the party supreme Mamata Banerjee.
"It is definitely a success for Trinamool and party chief Mamata Banerjee who had time again protested against the price rise of petrol. We welcome the decision as it will bring some relief to the masses who are reeling under the bane of inflation," Trinamool MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar told IANS.
The cut in petrol prices, by Rs.1.85 per litre, evoked mixed political response elsewhere in West Bengal with the Left Front describing it as a ploy to woo the masses before the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
"We have seen this ploy earlier also just before the 2009 Lok Sabha polls when the oil prices came down and were increased just after the polls. As the UP assembly polls are knocking at the door so it has been decreased to appease the masses," said Mohammed Salim, central committee member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist.
"They were under tremendous pressure both from their alliance partners and opposition parties. The UP assembly election is near so they had to put up a pro-public image, so the prices have come down," said Kshiti Goswami, state secretary, Revolutionary Socialist Party.
"The petrol prices have been increased 11 times (in 12 months) and this is the first time the oil prices have come down. So it needs to be calculated first how much has increased and how much the price has come down," said Manju Kumar Majumdar, state secretary, Communist Party of India.
The NCP Tuesday hailed the slash in petrol prices, noting that the move showed that the government has come to "some sense".
In his reaction to the cut party General Secretary DP Tripathi said, "This shows that the government has come to some sense. Therefore, I welcome the decision."
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP, an ally of the UPA, had asked the government to devise some mechanism to keep fuel prices in check after state-owned oil companies effected a steep hike of Rs 1.80 per litre on November 3.

Source: IANS/PTI

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Rebuild Your Vision 10-10-10 Rule

Use a simple way you can reduce near point stress associated with reading, watching television, and computer use.
Every time you are performing close vision work for over 10 consecutive minutes, look up and focus on anything that is at least 10 feet away, for at least 10seconds. 10-10-10…
Incorporate this into everything you do up close. This technique, along with a few more simple ones just like it can help to save your vision for years to come!

Do You Use A Computer At Work?

Many of us sit in front of the magic box all day!
If you’ve experienced any of the 14 symptoms listed below, you’ll want to read on for information on how to combat CVS.

The American Optometric Association’s 14 Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome

• tired eyes
• eyestrain
• periodic blurred near vision
• occasional blurred distance vision
• headaches
• dry eyes
• slowness in changing the focus of your eyes
• burning eyes
• contact lens discomfort
• changes in color perception
• glare sensitivity
• excessive tearing
• sore eyes
• red eyes

Obviously, the easiest way to prevent CVS is to stop using the computer! But, as that is simply not an option for the millions of us who make a living performing computer-related tasks, here are 6 tips to help you monitor your natural monitors: your eyes.

1. Make sure your workstation, whether on the job or at home, is set up ergonomically

“Ergonomics” is just a fancy way of saying “Being kind to your body.” But as we know, being good to your body every day will benefit you in the long run. Repositioning your monitor is an easy and effective way to avoid awkward head or eye movements. As Dr. Ergo (aka Dr. James Sheedy) notes on his Web site,“Because the eyes lead the body, your body will assume whatever position is required to enable your eyes to see comfortably. A poorly located computer screen causes awkward body positions.” He notes that a viewing distance of 18-28 inches is most common.
He also says that the center of the computer screen should be 4-9 inches below your eyes, because your eyes work best with a slight downward gaze. Your computer screen and other work (and your phone, if that’s part of your office)should be located straight in front of you so that you don’t have to look sideways or twist your body or neck to see them.

2. Eliminate glare in your work area

Glare is an all-too-common cause of eyestrain and eye fatigue. Modifying your office lighting will eliminate glare and harsh reflections. First, find the source of the glare: Is it coming from a window, task light, or the screen itself (see #3 below)?
If possible, remove the offending source of light. Adjust blinds or curtains to minimize sunlight. Turn down overhead lights so that the brightness of the screen and the surrounding room are balanced. Do not, however, work in the dark: the contrast between computer-generated light and lack of background light strains the eyes.
Task lights should be positioned to provide direct light for reading and other office work, but should not shine directly on the computer or in your eyes. You may need to use a low-wattage bulb.
You may also need to move your desk so that bright overhead lights or windows are not in your field of view. The best position for your desk is directly to the side of a window/overhead light. That way you can still enjoy some natural light without glare (caused by brightness in front of your field of vision) or reflections(caused by brightness behind you).
Another option is to use a monitor glare hood, or better yet, a screen. Look for anti-reflection screens that have been approved by the American Optometric Association.

3. Adjust your screen

Dr. Ergo notes, “Optimal contrast and visibility are attained with black characters on a white background. However, other combinations can be comfortable so long as the brightness contrast between the characters and the background is high. It is best to avoid dark backgrounds.”
You can also adjust your brightness/contrast controls, and use a larger text size, as display legibility is an important factor in visual performance. For most, the size of the text should be three times the size of the smallest text you can read.
An article on “Flat-Panel Monitors Versus CRTs” in the magazine PC World says that “flat panel (LCD) displays have visual advantages compared to cathode ray tube (CRT) displays. They do not flicker and the contrast is typically higher.” And because CRTs deteriorate gradually over time, you may not even realize that the picture you are looking at today is not the same one you were looking at five years ago when you bought the monitor-although this deterioration may be causing your CVS symptoms. Consider an upgrade.

4. Take a break

It’s easy to lose track of time at the computer. Always remember the 10-10-10 rule and at the minimum take a break at least once an hour for about 10 minutes and blink frequently — video display use is associated with a decreased frequency of blinking. (And a computer break is a perfect excuse to perform your Rebuild Your Vision eye exercises.) Computer use can also cause an increased rate of tear evaporation.

5. Stay healthy

Although you can relieve dry, itchy eyes with artificial tears from the drugstore or supermarket, it’s best not to rely on them. A better way to prevent dryness is to stay hydrated with good old-fashioned H2O. Of course, eating your beta-carotine-rich foods is always good for maintaining eye health, and a Japanese study suggests that supplementation with the amino acid taurine appears to alleviate vision fatigue. Contact lens wearers may want to switch to glasses during PC work, as contact lenses themselves can cause dry eyes.

6. Rest Your Eyes

A nice cold washcloth, or a soothing, camomile- or lavender-filled eye pillow-or even closing your eyes for 10 minutes! (does wonders for sore eyes after a long day’s work)

And a great reminder for taking breaks… Follow the 10-10-10 rule!

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Top 10 Blackberry Apps

If holding a Blackberry phone in the hand gives a feel of pride, on the other hand apps can excite you and help you. If you are very busy and couldn’t able to send emails on time Blackberry helps you. If you are a business traveler and struggling hard to build and manage your itinerary then Blackberry is the solution for you. You might be wondering that how a phone could be helpful in such a tricky situation. Whether you believe it or not Blackberry Apps are helpful for millions of people in many ways.

Here are the top 10 Blackberry Apps. http://ow.ly/6GZin

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Soy: Not A Healthy Alternative

Soy is the latest food fad to sweep the country. But is it really good for you?

One of the longest and best-conducted studies on the effects of soy consumption — involving annual CT brain scans of subjects — found that those who ate the most soy foods had a dramatically higher incidence of brain shrinkage and dementia compared to those who ate the least or none at all.
It has been shown that soybeans naturally have high levels of glutamate, manganese, fluoride, and aluminum, all of which are brain toxins. Yet because of massive propaganda campaigns by so-called health authorities, women, in particular, are consuming large amounts of soy-containing foods and drinks.
These women think that they are reducing their risk of breast cancer. In fact, studies have shown that in women who have had breast cancer or are currently fighting the disease, soy increases the growth of their cancers.
Of special concern is the high manganese content in soy products, particularly soy milk and baby formula. In babies, manganese can cause damage to critical areas of the developing brain. In older adults, it can worsen damage to the parts of the brain responsible for Parkinson’s disease.
The fluoride and aluminum in soy combine to form a compound that damages brain cells and other organs — especially the thyroid. Dr. Anna Strunecka, a friend and colleague of mine from the Czech Republic, has conducted extensive research on the toxicity of aluminofluoride.
In addition, more than 80 percent of all soybeans used for manufacturing foods are GMO (genetically modified). Genetic modifications cause the plant to produce abnormal proteins as well as to overproduce toxins normally produced by the plant.

So, ignore the hype: Soy is not a healthy alternative.

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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) exempted various service providers

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today exempted various service providers, including the dealers of telecom operators, e-ticketing agencies and social networking sites, from the new limit of one

Following concerns raised by telecom lobby COAI on limiting the SMS entitlement to 100 per day, TRAI today exempted various service providers, including the dealers of telecom operators, e-ticketing agencies and social networking sites, from the new limit of one hundred SMSes per day per SIM

New Delhi: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today exempted various service providers, including the dealers of telecom operators, e-ticketing agencies and social networking sites, from the new limit of one hundred SMSes per day per SIM, which was imposed to block pesky calls and messages, reports PTI.
On 5th September, after much delay, TRAI had come out with recommendations to stop pesky calls and text messages from 27th September, ordering that no access provider (operators) shall permit thetransmission of more than 100 SMSes per day per SIM.
“… Hereby directs all access providers to exclude the following persons from the limit of one hundred SMS per day per SIM-dealers of the telecom service providers and DTH operators for sending request for electronic recharge on mobile numbers,” TRAI said in a statement.
The directive from the regulator had come in the wake of concerns raised by telecom lobby COAI on limiting the SMS entitlement per SIM to 100 per day.
It will also exempt e-ticketing agencies for responding to e-ticketing request made by its customers, SMSes from social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, LinkedIn and GooglePlus to their members in connection to activities relating to their accounts, based on verifiable options; and agencies providing directory services, such as Justdial, Zatse, Callezee, Getit and Askme, TRAI added.
Earlier, COAI had asked TRAI to reconsider its recommendation to limit the number of SMSes per SIM to 100 per day, saying that such a regulation may pose a potential challenge to the ‘fundamental rights’ of an ordinary user.
There are several instances where SMSes are an important mode of communication. There could be a situation where a customer has exhausted the limit and suddenly some emergency occurs, COAI had said.
Further, this limit will not also be applicable on ‘blackout days’ (festive occasions), when the customer is free to send as many messages he wants.
In the case of post-paid telephone numbers, the access provider shall not permit more than 3,000 SMSes per SIM per month, the TRAI recommendations had said.
However, TRAI said, “The access provider shall, before excluding the persons, obtain an undertaking from such person that he shall not use the said facility in any manner for sending commercial communications.”
Subscribers have the option of choosing to be under the ‘Fully Blocked’ category, which is akin to the ‘Do Not Call Registry’. If a user selects the ‘Partially Blocked’ category, he/she will receive SMSes in categories chosen.

For registering under the fully blocked list, a customer has to SMS `START 0' to 1909.

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No more pesky calls and SMSs

New Delhi: Millions of mobile subscribers across the country are likely to get relief from pesky commercial calls and messages with the regulations preventing such communications coming into effect Tuesday, the 27th
To avail the service, the customers will have to get themselves registered with the National Customer Preference Registry, earlier known as “National Do Not Call Registry”. The regulations include fines ranging from Rs.25,000 to Rs.250,000 for the defaulting companies.
According to reports, while the number of pesky calls has come down lately, the messages still remained a menace. On an average, as many as 47,454 complaints per month are being registered in this regard.
Communications Minister Kapil Sibal will Tuesday announce the implementation of the regulations — The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulation — thus laying down strict penalties for violators.
Although over 130 million mobile subscribers had registered with the National Do Not Call registry till Aug 25, consumers are still pestered with unwanted commercial calls and messages.
The telecom watchdog had announced a set of new measures last year to curb such unsolicited commercial communications which were to be implemented from Jan 1, but it kept repeatedly postponing the implementation sate.
The department of telecom (DoT) has provided ’140′ number series to be allocated to telemarketers for a fixed line network. Access providers have to make relevant provisions in their network before allocation of resources to telemarketers using ’140′ numbering series from fixed line network.
Unlike the previous regulation that asked customers to register their numbers in “Do Not Call” list, the new regulations allows customers to choose from different categories like “Fully blocked” or “Partially blocked”.
TRAI has disconnected over 72,000 telephone connections of registered telemarketers and over 118,000 of unregistered telemarketing companies for breaching guidelines related to commercial calls and messages up to May 2011.Source: IANS

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