[LIG](India) - UNDP ICT WG Pushes Free and Open Source Software

>From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org>
>To: linux-india-general@lists.sourceforge.net
>Cc: fsf-friends@gnu.org.in
>Subject: [LIG] [UNDP Consultation] ICT Working Group Calls for Promotion
>of Free
> and Open Source Software (fwd)
>Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2003 13:37:23 +0530 (IST)
>
>This was put out on Irfan Khan's s-asia-it@apnic.net mailing list. FN
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>
>[with thanks to DigitalOpportunity.org for the lead]
>
>
>UNDP Consultation on ICT4D and Media Partnerships
>
>
>ICT Working Group Calls for Promotion
>of Free and Open Source Software
>
>
>
>New Delhi, 31 May [2003]:
>
>
>Free and Open Source Software should be promoted as the new mantra in
>the area of using Information and Communication technology (ICT) for
>Human Development. This was the key message of the discussions during
>the second day of the Consultation on ICTs for Development and Cross-
>Media Partnerships, organised jointly by the United Nations
>Development Programme, the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
>(IIMB) and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New
>Delhi.
>
>
>
>Describing Open Source Software as an area of far-reaching relevance
>for rural development and community-based initiatives, Mr. R.
>Chandrashekhar, the Joint Secretary for E-Governance, Ministry of
>Information Technology, said that a number of fora within the
>Government were actively promoting and advocating for non-proprietary
>software. "We have to keep in mind a discerning consumer who wants
>quality and value delivered at an affordable price, and Open Source
>Software meets this requirement well", he said.
>
>
>
>Speaking at the Consultation, Dr. S Ramakrishnan, the head of
>Software Development in the Department of Information Technology,
>Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, made a strong
>case for the promotion of Free and Open Source Software. He called
>for greater localisation of Open Source Software and vendor support
>for user groups. Dr. Ramakrishnan also said that in the last few
>months there has been increasing debate and discussion within the
>Government about promoting Open Source Software. He said that the
>Government recognises a tremendous scope for public-private
>partnerships and is considering pilot initiatives and supporting the
>NGOs working the field. He said the need of the hour is to 'spread
>the word' and encourage people to look at Open Source Software as an
>efficient alternative. He said workshops like these helped demystify
>Open Source Software and break the prevailing myths.
>
>
>
>The Consultation highlighted successful case studies in the use of
>Open Source Software in various areas. Mr. Sanjay Jaju, District
>Collector of the West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh and pioneer
>of the much-acclaimed e-governance initiative Saukaryam, discussed
>how the use of Open Source Software has enhanced the administration
>work in his district. Mr. Kishore Bhargava of Link Axis Technologies
>talked about the potential of Open Source Software in the field of
>education and explained how its low cost, flexibility and easy
>adaptability could prove to be the key to expanding education
>opportunities in the country.
>
>
>
>Mr. Venkatesh Hariharan of IndLinux made a compelling case for
>promoting Open Source Software in the area of Indian language
>computing. He said that India was in a condition of 'Digital
>Brahminism' where the English-educated and computer literate minority
>enjoyed a position of privilege. He called for the development of
>localised software for the 900 million-strong non-English speaking
>population of the country. He quoted the example of China where the
>law mandates every computer in the country to be equipped with a
>Chinese language interface, and said it was disappointing that we do
>not have an interface for Hindi, which is the fourth largest spoken
>language in the world.
>
>
>
>The recommendations of the Consultation emphasized that Open Source
>Software has implications for human development, and thus the issue
>of technology should be considered not in isolation but in the
>context of development. Discussions during the Consultation yielded a
>consensus about Open Source Software being the way forward, and the
>need for developing support mechanisms for bringing about an open
>source software revolution.
>
>
>source: http://www.undp.org.in/NEWS/PRESS/press262.htm
>
>
>
>
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