On Monday 19 January 2009 10:14, vinay sreenivasa wrote:

Hi All,

I am Vinay from IT for Change, an NGO in Bangalore.

The Gujarat government has announced a 500 crore ICT education program for its schools. (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rs-500-cr-for-computers-in-schoo ls/405217/ ) .They have also said that they are inclined to opt for FOSS in the schools. They have not however fully decided. What has possibly queered the pitch is that Microsoft has said that they will offer windows for free.

This is the big mistake that people not familiar with IT (and FOSS ) make. It's not the price, it's the Freedom. One should stress that IT is crucially dependent on the software to achieve it's magic. The art is embedded in the source. Non availability of the source means that there can be no understanding and very little education. The above relates to IT education. However.....

If one is to leverage IT for other educational goals (primary / secondary schools, commerce / arts etc), one would require 1) tools and customisation of these tools 2) CONTENT

Using closed software precludes both, besides adding huge costs, both to the state and to the individual. While getting closed software "free" might reduce exchequers capex, it will result in massive recurring costs and outflow of money from individuals. In particular any and all education is dependent on Content. Encoding the content in anything but free and unencumbered technology is a recipe for sure disaster (try reading some of the old signature files stored in banks. "old" here means 12 yrs old not 120 years). Now check what was taught 12 years ago and you find it is not very different from what is taught today.

Besides the above simple scenario, there is the added FOSS technical advantages of security, performance and upgrades.

Getting FOSS in schools will greatly benefit the Gujarat government and all the students. Hence some of us are initiating a campaign to influence the government to decide in favour of FOSS.

We need the support of the FOSS community here, especially the FOSS community from Gujarat. I am writing to ILUG-Bombay though since I heard that a lot of members here are supportive of the Gujarat FOSS scenario.

ANY lug group will be very supportive.

If a lot of people from Gujarat join us in the campaign it will help to get the government to go the FOSS way. Showing the Gujarat government that there is a vibrant FOSS community might assure them that there might be support for them if they go the FOSS way. What will also tip the scale is if can show the government that a localised (Gujarati) distro of FOSS, localised FOSS apps exists, which can be used in schools. We need the help of the community here too - to help us figure out what apps/distros should be suggested.

Knoppix edu is a ready distro. Check it out. Some customisation for support in gujarati may be required.

Requesting your support in this campaign.

Please do write back to let us know if you can support us/ if you have any queries. Please do write back for any suggestions as well.

vinay sreenivasa wrote:

The Gujarat government has announced a 500 crore ICT education program for its schools. (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rs-500-cr-for-computers-in-schools/405217/ ) .They have also said that they are inclined to opt for FOSS in the schools. They have not however fully decided. What has possibly queered the pitch is that Microsoft has said that they will offer windows for free.

Getting FOSS in schools will greatly benefit the Gujarat government and all the students. Hence some of us are initiating a campaign to influence the government to decide in favour of FOSS.

Along with the benefits of FOSS, you can also mention the dangers for a Govt. or a political organisation to have its entire electronic data controlled by closed software whose creators and controllers are foreigners.

We need the support of the FOSS community here, especially the FOSS community from Gujarat. I am writing to ILUG-Bombay though since I heard that a lot of members here are supportive of the Gujarat FOSS scenario.

It would be better if a professional FOSS service organisation takes up this challenge rather than just depend on community support.

If a lot of people from Gujarat join us in the campaign it will help to get the government to go the FOSS way. Showing the Gujarat government that there is a vibrant FOSS community might assure them that there might be support for them if they go the FOSS way. What will also tip the scale is if can show the government that a localised (Gujarati) distro of FOSS, localised FOSS apps exists, which can be used in schools. We need the help of the community here too - to help us figure out what apps/distros should be suggested.

If the Gujarati developers could create a GujUbuntu or HindUbuntu demo CD fully packed with regional and religious themes and culture learning software, then it will spread the message accross very fast. Simply distributing the live CDs free to the public will also generate a lot of interest. The CD covers should have photos of various deities.

Religion has a firm grip on people than technology and if FOSS can exploit this phenomenon in India, no Microsoft will be able to stop it. Various spiritual leaders who run Ashrams to the tune of crores of rupees can be included in these projects, with their own cult versions of Ubuntu CDs. Let one group of followers bring out one CD version and watch the rival groups bring out their own CDs. Ultimately the winner will be the GNU/Linux kernel and its deb packages.