On Thursday, I finally met with Anthony Lobo and Maj Gen B G Shively (Retd) of the Tata Consultancy Services. I've been following their work in the field of using computers to battle illiteracy for some time now, actually since June 2000 when the story first emerged in the technical press.
In brief, they use a software product of theirs to help just about anyone teach adult illiterates to get access to 'functional literacy'. The focus is on reading skills (so that anyone can read a few basic words, maybe even simple newspaper headlines and signboards... rather than just being able to sign one's name). What is interesting is that TCS claims this program is 90% successful, and can convert an adult into 'functionally literate' in just about 40 hours of teach. What's more, anyone can teach -- since the computer does most of the work, one doesn't need to be a skilled teacher. Each teacher can take a number of classes without getting tired. TCS is a commercial firm. But this is a free-of-cost software, which is available to anyone without charge willing to implement it for community benefit. There are no hidden costs. The lessons tie up with the programs and books of the National Literacy Mission, and Indian attempt to fight illiteracy nationwide. NLM's books are inexpensively priced, each costing around five rupees or so... As far as Goa goes, this is a 'high-literacy' state. But, we really cannot afford to be complacent. Goa is ranked fourth highest nationwide in terms of its literacy achievements. But even regions like Lakshadweep and parts of the North East, and of course, Kerala too, have done better than Goa. We here have not been able to touch the target of 100% literacy, despite trying for some time. When one checked the National Literacy Mission website (http://nlm.nic.in) it was surprising to see that Goa has no 'state resource centre' listed against its name. Goa also needs to fight illiteracy. Every individual in the state has the right to be able to live life more fully. It only helps Goa if everyone here is a productive individual, rather than an underperforming person condemned to a life of poverty and lack of opportunity. We also owe a responsibility to migrant workers drawn into the state, and regardless of origins, they deserve a chance to function at higher efficiency. This helps them; and, of course, this helps Goa too. In the context of the TCS software, we here have a number of tasks which deserve to be undertaken. Goa Shipyard Ltd at Vasco is undertaking a program on this front, thanks to a push from Sumita Pillai <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Of tangential interest, the GSL had also undertaken a campaign to fight alcoholism, when it was released that workers from that unit were dying at alarming rates of upto one worker a week from alcohol-related complications! But apart from GSL, few others in Goa seem to be aware of the potential of this software. In addition, because of obvious constraints over resources, TCS currently has only the software program in five languages -- Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil and Bengali. Gujarati is being worked on. Kannada remains a huge gap. Konkani, along with other uncovered languages, too deserves a program of its own. The many protagonists of this language could surely come forward to undertake some initiative (as also, another initiative for making computing in Konkani a reality). Could institutions like TSKK get involved to make this a reality? Does anyone know where the Konkani primers brought out by the National Literacy Mission are available? Can we call ourselves really independent till we have fought and conquered illiteracy, poverty, malnutrition, bigotry and similar enemies? If you know of anyone with an interest in education, please pass this on to her/him. If you want a copy of the software, check out the contacts below, or contact me. Some links you might find useful: Anthony Lobo, TCS, Air India Bldg, 10th Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 Tel 56689378 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Maj Gen B G Shively, AVSM (Retd) Consulting Advisor, Tata Consultancy Services, Pune [EMAIL PROTECTED] National Literacy Mission (India) site http://nlm.nic.in http://www.tataliteracy.com Site explaining the TCS idea of promoting functional literacy through low-end computers. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how such initiatives could be further spread, do get back. FN ------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks ----------------------------------- T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436 -------------------------------- ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. 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