On 12/15/06, doxa@sancharnet.in doxa@sancharnet.in wrote:
Surely this is an occasion of national shame to all of us, who work to propagate values of freedom in an information society. It should also put to shame the recommendations of Knowledge Commission of India to Govt of India - because already 14 states have already entered into partnership with Microsoft, some for the last 13 years. Its also a shame to the Right to Information Act 2005, where "preservation of confidentiality of sensitive information" has been thrown to winds - because these are now guaranteed only if US State agrees
refer Akbar Raj's case and the stunts followed by Kerala Police with Microsoft HQs and US Security Department.
No longer can the Ministry of Local Self Governments in Kerala now deny that Information Kerala Mission is outside this nefarious design of this proprietary corporate. Even then which are the other 13 states ? What is NIC doing with Microsoft ? What is Min of IT, Govt of India doing with Microsoft ?
Are all these happening with the consent of the citizens ?
Do we have a right to know ?
FSF India should launch a nationwide campagn and alert the citizens as well as administrators of the dangers of these collaborations between public bodies and profit-only motivated proprietary software companies.
Nagarjuna