[smc-discuss] FSF India sends letter to Education Minister of Kerala

[Anivar Aravind]

Dear Friends,

Dr Nagarjuna, Chairperson FSF India has send a letter to Mr MA Baby
citing the violation of the Kerala IT policy by using proprietary software
for several projects.

Read the letter from

http://www.gnu.org.in/fsf-india-sends-letter-to-education-minister-of

					06/26/08
To
Sri M A Baby,
Minister of Education
Governement of Kerala
Room No.208, Second Floor, North Sandwich Block,
Govt. Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram 1

Dear Sir,

Subject: Forcing schools to use proprietary software illegally

During the last few decades, Kerala has been following a unique 
development path that has been considered a model for the rest of the 
country and even other underdeveloped countries. Kerala, again showed a 
model to the world with its vision to build an inclusive Knowledge 
society. Its IT Policy clearly states that the "Government realizes that 
Free Software presents a truly unique opportunity in building a truly 
egalitarian knowledge society. The Government will take all efforts to 
develop Free Software and Free Knowledge and shall encourage and mandate 
the appropriate use of Free Software in all ICT initiatives." (section 
2.10, IT Policy document, Kerala Govt.)

We congratulate the government for its efforts to support Free Software 
and free knowledge initiatives. Schools, KSEB, Kerala State Khadi Board 
etc. successfully completed their migration to Free Software. Public 
sector initiatives like Keltron are doing mega projects completely in 
Free Software. With these examples, the state showed that "Free 
Software" is a feasible technological alternative to any proprietary 
technology.

Under the leadership of the IT at School project, the schools in Kerala 
were the first to successfully migrate to Free Software. The migration 
to GNU/Linux operating system and software tools not only saved money 
but also helped teachers to keep their ethical and moral values by 
allowing students and others to share the software they use.

However, we would like to point out some abberations from the stated 
policy particularly in the e-governance initiatives of the education 
department, like the Higher Secondary Single Window system,  data entry 
application for SSLC, Child Census,  etc. The above stated e-governance 
projects necessitated the installation of Microsoft Windows operating 
system as the software for the above projects were dependent on that 
operating system. This has forced the schools to install these 
proprietary operating systems. Most of the schools do not have the 
necessary licenses for these proprietary systems and consequently, they 
have to install and use illegal copies of the operating system. By using 
unauthorized copies of proprietary software, the schools and the 
teachers who install the operating system are breaking the law. This 
also puts the teachers in a moral dilemma of having to use proprietary 
software while teaching and promoting Free Software. Also, it is a clear 
violation of the IT policy of the state.

The software used for data entry operations are very simple applications 
which are very easy to build on a free software platform. Also, as all 
schools in Kerala have already migrated to Free Software, it is easy for 
them to use a software that works in GNU/Linux. An example is the IT 
Practical Examination software. Around 5 lakhs students used the IT 
Practical Examination software for SSLC this year without any problems, 
and it was made completely using Free Software technology. Government 
agencies like Keltron, CDAC etc have proved their capabilities in 
building software using free software technology.

We hope that the State will keep up to the leadership role it has taken 
in the adoption of Free Software in the education sector. We strongly 
recommend the government to stand by its policy to use only Free 
Software in all government departments and convert all software 
installed and used in schools to free software technology.

Looking forward to your support in spreading the use of free software.

Thanking you
best regards

Dr. Nagarjuna G.

Chairperson, FSF India.

References:
IT Policy 2007, Kerala Government: 
http://www.keralaitmission.org/web/main/ITPolicy-2007.pdf
CPI(M) supports Free software : 
http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/04/stories/2007030411510400.htm
Kerala schools use free software : 
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/280323.html
ORUMA: the result of KSEB’s concerted efforts : 
http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/09/stories/2008030953940500.htm

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