[Fsf-india] MS Executive Summit

[CK Raju]

> At the MS Executive Summit in Kochi, the IKM solutions for e
> governance based on Windows was given much prominence. I guess this is
> a part of the ongoing move by MS to increase it's clout with the
> government.

For clarification purpose. IKM was setup by the LDF Govt as a project under 
an autonomous institution. It still continues to have the same composition 
(and thoughts) even after change of guard at the State.

I have my own doubts whether the summit had the blessings of the Local Self 
Government Department, under whose control,  the IKM would finally function. 
That the new IT Policy have been thrown to winds is clear from the statements 
emanating from the Press,

>
> Did any of us know more details of this Summit?, Was there any
> participation by Government?

I am trying to get in touch with the department and would relay the response. 
Those who want to get is directly may write to cherkalam@sancharnet.in the 
address of the Minister for Local Self Government in Kerala, Mr Cherkalam 
Abdullah. (Please be polite, or else, I may get the axe for disclosing his 
e-mail. He had declared in his speech while inaugurating the Southern 
Regional Centre of Kerala Institute of Local Administration at 
Thiruvananthapuram on 02 Nov 2001, that deploying projects over free software 
platforms is his dream.  The Minister had been maintaining this thought ever 
since his ascendance to power in the State.)

> This is also a warning for us that we have to continuously fight
> against the proprietary or we lose.

It always will be tough to take the money power, head on. To those who feel 
like losing  strength by such acts (and their coverage/publicity) of some 
pro-MS organisations, forums such as these should the place to derive more 
energy. 

What we need are a few more committed correspondents like Tapas Ray from The 
Statesman in West Bengal, to carry forward the message, on a regular basis. 
We are preparing even for instances where the editors of major dailies might 
get warnings on losing out MS advertisements, in case views on Free Software 
are widely articulated. That calls for more tactic, like mixing humour and 
being mild while carrying out such news. If the first priority is maintained 
as Schools, I think MS would definitely meet with its natural death.

MS products at State level will meet with resistance from local level 
leaders, an area where I am presently focussing. (Incidentally the local 
level leaders of Palakkad district of Kerala, who were with me for three days 
will be coming out with a resolution today against MS invasion on their 
freedom. This resolution would then be forwarded to the Ministries of LSG and 
IT.)

Let the spirits remain at the highest levels. We'll continue chasing the MS 
Bin Ladens with more vigour, with concrete proof at one hand and demolition 
acts at the other.

Cheers and best wishes, 
CK Raju
Kerala Institute of Local Administration.