FN: Frederick Noronha’s blog

Congrats Mayabhushan Nagvenkar, one of our young and intrepid colleagues
from Goa… who incidentally has had to face harassment from editors in
this state too for some of his earlier endeavours in Goa!

Unfortunately, in Goa, many viewers have probably this story on STAR TV,
since the channel is currently not being shown in parts of the state due
to some dispute over broadcast rights and payments. –FN
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Another sting exposes scam in use of
MPs’ funds

By Indo Asian News Service
http://in.news.yahoo.com/051219/43/61m32.html

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) A week after a sting operation exposed 11 MPs
who took cash to raise questions in parliament, a TV channel Monday
aired footage showing parliamentarians discussing kickbacks to release
officials funds for developing their constituencies.

The Star News channel claimed its reporters were able to obtain
assurances from several MPs - including Chandra Pratap Singh of
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Churchill Alemao of the Congress and
Parasnath Yadav of Samajwadi Party - that they would provide money from
the MPs Local Area Development scheme to fake NGOs for a ‘commission’.

Responding to the expose, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, a
stickler for rules, said he was ‘ashamed’ at this latest revelation of
corruption among MPs. Last week, Chatterjee had said he was saddened by
the cash-for-questions scam, a sentiment also expressed by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh.

Members of both houses of India’s parliament can provide up to Rs.20
million a year under the scheme to fund projects in their constituencies
like building of roads and schools and setting up of computer centres.

Alemao, who represents Mormugao constituency in Lok Sabha and is a
former chief minister of Goa, was shown in secretly filmed footage
saying he would release Rs.1.5 million - if he was paid a commission of
Rs.300,000 - for setting up a Konkani library in his home state by a
non-existent NGO called Ashraya Abhiyan.

But Alemao later became suspicious of the reporters involved in the
sting operation and refused to go ahead with the plan.

Chandra Pratap Singh, one of the 11 MPs exposed last week in the
‘cash-for-questions’ scam, was shown allegedly accepting Rs.25,000 from
Star News reporters for similarly releasing funds to a fake NGO.

He was told by the reporters that the payment was part of the ‘20
percent commission’ demanded by him for releasing Rs.500,000 from the
development funds.

The reporters were also shown having discussions on similar lines with
Ramswaroop Koli of the BJP (who represents Bayana in Rajasthan in the
Lok Sabha), Isam Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party and Sakshi Maharaj of
the Samajwadi Party (both Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh), and
Faggan Singh Kulaste of the BJP (Mandla-Madhya Pradesh in the Lok
Sabha).

Parasnath Yadav of Samajwadi Party was shown getting angry after the
reporters apparently failed to make a payment of Rs.50,000 he had
demanded.

Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh said in an immediate
reaction to the sting operation that Yadav had been asked to resign from
the party. Amar Singh urged other parties whose MPs were named in
Monday’s expose to act against them.

There were also MPs like Tufani Saroj of Samajwadi Party (who represents
Saidpur seat of Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha) who steadfastly refused
to accept the kickbacks offered by the reporters, and asked them to
visit his constituency to discuss what development projects they could
carry out.

Star News said it had conducted the sting operation over the past six
months.

The Rajya Sabha has suspended the lone member of the upper house
involved in the cash-for-questions scam uncovered by Internet portal
cobrapost.com and Aaj Tak news channel, while a Lok Sabha panel will
decide on the action to be taken against 10 members of the lower house
involved in the scandal.

More MPs caught taking bribes on camera

Onkar Singh in New Delhi | December 19, 2005 20:20 IST
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/19bribe.htm

Hardly had the furore over Operation Duryodhan by Cobrapost.com, in
which 11 MPs were caught on tape taking bribes for asking questions in
the Parliament, died down another sting operation by Star News channel
is likely to create another storm in Parliament on Tuesday.

Operation Chakravyuh organised by two journalists Jamshed Khan and
Mayabhushan Nagvenkar, both former tehelka.com journalists, has caught
several big politicans off guard while demanding commission for getting
work done or showing undue favour to an NGO, which had floated fake
projects for developmental works in their respective constitutencies.

Amongst those who had been shown were Shakshi Maharaj and Paras Nath
Yadav, Samajwadi Party MP from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh.

While Shakshi Maharaj wanted a commission of up to 45 per cent, Yadav
even wrote a letter to a district magistrate which he withdrew later
since he was not given the promised money. “You do not have the guts to
leave Rs 50,000. Bring the rest of the money to get the letter,” he is
quoted a saying on the tape.

The expose promises to expose a former minister in the National
Democratic Alliance and a Congress member as well.

“The team has been working on the sting for the last six months. One
former NDA minister, one former chief minister of Goa, and five Members
of Parliament have been caught on camera,” Milind Khandekar of Star News
told rediff.com.

An interesting experiment from Hyderabad, described below…

Spark-India… explaining an unusual concept
By Sheel

Spark-India is a partnership firm started by three women with
over 50 years of teaching experience between them in Jan
2003. The Managing Partner Ms. Lakshmi Rameshwar Rao has been
a teacher for over 25 years, and has also been in the
publishing industry for over 17. Ms. Tanvir Iqbal, another
partner, is a practising speech therapist with over 20 years
experience and a special educator conducting remedial classes
for school-going children. The third partner is me, Sheel. I
have an M.Phil in English and have been a teacher variously
at college and other institutions, while participating in
teaching non-formally at school and other institutions.
Currently I am an in-house writer and editor at Spark-India;
I am also in charge of Teacher Plus.

Spark-India was launched in Feb 2003, bringing out the first
Spark BIG BOOK A Pot of Light, Spark Junior Geography and a
set of two English language teaching VCDs called The Art and
Craft of Teaching. Since then, we have published a second BIG
BOOK, Under the Bed, a second geography book titled Spark
Geography, and an Empathy Book called The Helping Hand.

Spark BIG BOOKS are lavishly illustrated large format books
(about 14 inches wide and 19 high!) for group reading. A
concept developed in New Zealand, Big Books have been used
effectively in the Reading and English Acquisition Programme
(REAP) in Singapore as well as in the Middle East.

Spark BIG BOOKS are designed to be a pre-primary and primary
teacher’s resource, a tool to teach reading and help children
acquire the English language. These are original Indian
stories that children will enjoy and can relate to. The
large, vivid illustrations help children understand and
predict the story, and in the process developing an
understanding of what comes before and after. Details of
illustration stimulate thought and discussion on indirectly
related topics, and they learn to listen, learn and express
themselves.

The stories also familiarise children with simple as well as
uncommon language structures, thereby building up language
skills. The large font familiarises them with words and helps
develop sight-reading. Some activity ideas to enhance
listening, reading and speaking skills, as well as to enhance
motor and social skills are suggested in a note to parents
and teachers at the end of the books.

A pre-reading activity that helps assess the child’s reading
readiness is also included in each. A Pot of Light (author
Sheel; illustrator Mithila Maniketh) is priced at Rs. 175,
while Under the Bed (author Usha Raman; illustrator Sarada
Natarajan) is priced at Rs. 200.

Spark Junior Geography is a resource-cum-text book for 7–9
year-olds (Classes III and IV). It presents basic concepts of
physical geography in a highly interesting manner designed to
attract and fascinate the child and spur an interest in this
oft-neglected subject. Unfolding in logical steps, it begins
by asking what geography is, and proceeds to explain why we
study the subject. It goes on to uncover for the child new
perspectives from which to view her/his everyday world, and
understand the fundamental role that geography plays in our
daily lives.

The book introduces the fundamental objects of the study of
geography – the Solar System, the Earth, climate, oceans,
etc., and goes on to familiarise children with the tools that
geographers use, including the compass, latitudes and
longitudes, maps, etc., as well as navigation with these
tools. In a unique approach to geography, the book presents
text boxes that give additional information, and easy
experiments that help children find out facts for themselves,
spurring them to learn the subject on their own. The book
also has a glossary that serves as an index too, thus helping
children learn reference skills. Spark Junior Geography is
Indo-centric in its approach, with imaginative four-colour
illustrations make geography come alive.

This book is priced at Rs. 100.

Spark Geography is the next book in this series. A
resource-cum-text book for 9-12 year-olds (Classes V and VI),
this book takes the child forward in her learning of physical
geography, exploring the Earth, the Sun and the Moon in
greater detail. Rivers and mountains, wind and water, rocks
and minerals, maps and mapping, are all explained in clear,
lucid language. Concepts that are sometimes difficult to
grasp, such as the association of longitudes with time and
the latitudes with seasons are simplified in a way easy for
the child to grasp. The detailed diagrams add to the
understanding.

As in Spark Junior Geography, informative text boxes and easy
experiments form a part of the book. This book too is
Indo-centric in its approach and has an index. It is priced
at Rs.150.

Empathy Books are the latest series that Spark-India has
thought up. This series is meant to develop an attitude of
understanding and acceptance of differences of various kinds
– from disability to adoption to social values to race and
culture… the list can go on. The Helping Hand is the first of
the series. Aimed at ages eight and above, it tells the story
of a girl Komal growing up with a sibling who is different
and needs to go to special school. The story tells us how
Komal and her brother Tarun grow up, each learning at her/his
own pace.

The Art and Craft of Teaching is a set of two VCDs
for English language teaching and trainers at the
preparatory and lower primary level. This unusual
teacher resource demonstrates several teaching
techniques with the help of real classroom
simulations and helps provoke discussions amongst
teachers, educationists and school managements
towards discovering and creating more innovative
methods of imparting effective language skills.

Progressive steps in learning English are presented as
audio-visual modules covering the four language skills –
listening, speaking, reading and writing. Comprising fifteen
real classroom simulations in all, the VCDs incorporate
proven strategies and techniques to help children listen,
learn and express themselves fluently, accurately and
appropriately. They also include guidelines to stimulate the
development of concepts that encourage children to think and
work on problems. They also stimulate thought and discussion
among peers about distinctive strategies and techniques to
meet specific needs in the classroom.

The seven modules on The Art and Craft of Teaching
(Preparatory level) are: Story telling Speech practice
Talking about pictures Sequenced pictures Pattern writing
Letters and sounds How things feel.

On The Art and Craft of Teaching Part II (Lower primary
level, i.e., classes I and II ) the modules are as below:

Word order games
Action words
Conversation skills
Following verbal instructions
Reading proficiency
Dictionary skills
Sequencing
Poetry writing

The Art and Craft of Teaching is playable on a PC with
Windows 2000 and Windows Media player. Each VCD is priced at
Rs.250.

We also conduct workshops for teachers.

Besides these, under the imprint OtherWise Books, we have
also brought out alternative literature: the gay poet Dr.
Hoshang Merchant’s latest volume of poetry Bellagio Blues.

Spark-India is currently working on several other projects,
including a history of early civilisations.

CONTACT, FOR MORE DETAILS:

teacherplus01 at yahoo.co.in
spark_india at rediffmail.com

Below are some extracts from a speech by Saligaonetter Albert da Cruz (currently visiting Saligao with family), when he was chief guest at the Lourdes Convent High School annual day:

A school without staff and students is but a structure. Together it becomes an institution for learning, for progress and for enlightenment.

In the age of the Internet, if education has any single goal, it is to encourage children to *ask questions* and know how to search for the answers.

Every child is unique and every child is gifted by the Creator.

It is in the home and at school that it is important to recognise that each child is different.

Remember, success comes in cans, not in cannots.

It is important to develop a culture of appreciation, where it is imperative to say five positive things before we can say one negative. You will find that the child will grow with confidence, assurance and charm.

Children like to experiment and should not be afraid to fail, for failures are the stepping stones to success. Remember, it is better to try and fail then not to try at all.

Education today is a partnership between parents and teachers — both have an interest in the child’s welfare and progress.

Nice food for thought. Just thought of sharing it with you all. FN

Arun Mehta <arun at holisticit.com> has announced via the Africa Source
list that he teaches programming to blind students at the National
Association for the Blind in New Delhi (says he, “from this Sunday,
we plan to take the workshop online, snipurl/ks65 for those interested,
since we now have interest from Pakistan in this activity”).
Incidentally, his current passions include village/community radio and
technology for the disabled. Websites: india-gii.org, radiophony.com
holisticit.com

Links: Africa Source
Africasource2-l@lists.tacticaltech.org
http://lists.tacticaltech.org/mailman/listinfo/africasource2-l

Debian Weekly News, an interesting compiliation, says Simon
Bienlein[1], a German Debian contributor has received the BIENE award
[2]. Simon contributes to the [3]Debian installer and helped to make it
fit for use with a braille terminal. He received the award for his
[4]website (German) on GNU/Linux for blind people. The BIENE award is
given annually to websites whose accessibility is exemplary. Simon
even received a special award.

1. http://www.bienlein.com/
2. http://www.biene-award.de/award/
3. http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/
4. http://www.linux-fuer-blinde.de/

Someone from the army wrote in to request help “with regard to REDHAT LINUX COMPLETE as also the complete Free BSD incase possible on the following address please…”Well, I don’t have the resources to do that. But what I did was reply by recommending Nelson Lobo’s CD store: http://linuxdvdsale.tripod.com/