[Fsf-friends] Fwd: Govt Stand on Linux

[Ajith Kumar]

pandarinathan raman wrote:

> It is highly irregular to pass comment about officials
> without knowing full context. It could have been
> rejected probably some existing applications have to
> be ported.

What is the present level of computerization in the govt. offices.
Does it go anything beyond MSOffice.
If a panchayat is capable of handling its requirements using GNU/Linux,
preventing it by an order from Trivandrum is sheer misuse of power.

Once I  had the following experience. We we met  the mayor of a corporation

, that was computerizing some records, to talk about Free Software and  he
directed us to  the officer handling it.  When we pointed out about the
cost savings the curt response
from the officer was "we have enough funds from the government".
This is the prevailing mentality. If money is there, just spend it. If
somebody
under you come up with something better ,  reject it without assigning any
reason.

If  linux  is rejected due to the lack of some application, he should have
point out that reason. Sending an order "strictly objecting to installing
linux" is
not a sensible thing to do. Such reply comes from the attitude  " I do not
have to
explain any reason since I have power"

I am also a govt. employee and  working in a place where more that 100
machines
running GNU/Linux for word processing, communication,  databases,
scientific computing and
control applications. Fortunately it not under an official who rejects
something without reason.

>
> We can progress by our actions and not by accusing
> others or by emotional outbursts. For real success in
> govt sector you should show some successful sites in
> India entirely running on FS, which I think are
> reallly rare.

The decision makers in the govt. also should keep their eyes open.
They should interact with academics in places like engg. colleges and IITs.

At least they should see what is happening around the world.
If they do not do any of these, at least they should not issue  orders
"strictly objecting
to something without assigning any reason" .  A nations fate cannot be
decided by the
information provided by sales representatives.
If somebody does that,  one can always suspect the motive.

ajith

>