[Fsf-india] MS Executive Summit

[CK Raju]

On Wednesday 19 December 2001 08:39 am, CK Raju wrote:
> > 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.