[Fsf-friends] NEWS: Kerala lauds Microsoft for Malayalam software

[Frederick Noronha]

Kerala lauds Microsoft for Malayalam software

By Raghu Menon, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) Kerala's has lauded the move by Microsoft to enable
its next version of Windows software to support the Malayalam language.

"This is the commencement of a long term relationship," Kerala Minister for
IT P.K. Kunhalikutty said after a meeting with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates
here Tuesday.

Kunhalikutty described the move as a "major step forward for the state,
which has been lagging behind the other southern Indian states in IT
initiatives".

This is the first time a team from Kerala met Gates. This, the minister
claimed, will give the state's "IT for the masses" project the necessary
impetus.

Microsoft has also promised technical expertise in two flagship projects in
the state, Kunhalikutty said.

These include Information Kerala Mission, a grassroots level e-governance
programme, and "Akshaya," an initiative to bridge the digital divide in the
state.

While the mission is in its nascent stages, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
will soon launch "Askhaya".

"We could not have afforded to miss the bus this time," remarked the
minister.

"The very fact that he (Gates) agreed to meet a Kerala delegation ahead of
the other states illustrates Microsoft's desire to work with us", he added.

Microsoft's Indian team and the Kerala government will now draw up a roadmap
in the next 60 days.

"He has agreed to accord Kerala a special focus, which is tantamount to
considering us as a referral point in Microsoft's Indian initiatives. This
includes investment in our state", Kunhalikutty maintained.

"This focus would be at par with the programmes Microsoft runs in Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka", he added.

Under the proposal, Microsoft would also help Kerala in its drive to enhance
computer literacy at the school level. Also in the offing are specific
competency centres for Microsoft tools.

Infrastructure, technical proficiency of the people and broad policy
framework, according to Kunhalikutty, were the most important requirements
sought by the Microsoft team. The minister was confident of delivering on
all fronts.

"Our adeptness in the IT sector has amplified manifold", he claimed. "We are
at par with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in this respect."

--Indo-Asian News Service