[Fsf-friends] [fsug-tvm] Re: CPI(M) manifesto calls for promotion of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

[Anivar Aravind]

2009/3/19 Santhosh സന്തോഷ് VS <everlovingyouth at gmail.com>:
> "the Congress is left as the only major
> national party which is yet to formally take a position on FOSS."
> This is the reason for the doubt as the election here is
> between congress and CPM
> Clear that it is political. Otherwise which is the proof that congress is
> not using it any where?

I posted a Modified Version of Vinay's Mail.

We expect Congress will also Support Free Software and Open Standards
and all parties will reach at a common position on supporting Free
Software

A lot of positive steps are happened during UPA regime

1. Knowledge Commission report endorsing Free Software ( Now they have
to take t to Policy)
2. 11th 5 year plan says FOSS is the only way to move forward to
increase Computer penetration  in india from 1% of population to 5 %
percent
3. National Draft Policy on Open standards ( They have to Mandate it now)

Negative : Draft Patent manual that tried to introduce software
patents that will have a serious negative impact on small and medium
software enterprenures in the country

So it is the time for them to decide on taking credits of these
positive moves happened on UPA regime  by including the followups on
their Manifesto.


A short Note(personal) on CPIM & BJPs Policies  (lets talk negatives)
we can congress also in this list after their manifesto

BJP's IT Vision Document seems to be from a techno-nationalist
perspective. It envision citizen as a member of network society (
obliviously they  will miss a lot of citizens who does not have the
access ) which is under state surveillance.  Access Question is not
properly pointed in BJP's policy.  it is more about access quality &
infrastructure (ie middle class and upper  class )

Also it omits Important issues of Privacy of citizen in digital
spaces.  It is talks about National ID cards (Biomentric? ) Cyber
Warfare etc. It Also keeps silence about important issues like
patents.  But their adoption is very positive . It opens a dialogue
space with BJP on Free Software Values. Now they seems to be only
concerned about Digital security of the state & not about the citizen
. Also there are critiques about practicality of the policy based on
cost estimates


CPIM's manifesto is little more progressive for me compared to BJPs IT
vision. It focuses extending the idea of Free software to other
sectors like agriculture & Drug Discovery. But is silent about Open
standards.  The strong point against  new Public Funded R & D Bill
(which allows state patenting of Public Funded Research ) and against
US & EU influences in Indian patent Office i also good.

So let hope All Political parties will have a healthy competition on
Supporting Free Software. we can reach at a conclusion based on all
Manifestos

Anivar