You are right - but before that, if telephones are made a basic requirement, that will automatically enable access to the internet. But I suppose it is now easier to get a telephone line now that private operators are in the business.

Then we would need some desi-Dell to make cheap Linux machines. And some big store(s) to start selling those machines with a credit facility. I think shelling out ~20K upfront is still a big hurdle for many in India. But if they were just asked to pay about 5000 upfront and about 600 every month? How much does it cost(in India) anyway to build a low end Linux machine i.e 5/10GB hard-drive, 256MB RAM, 15" monitor, CD-ROM drive, modem...

How expensive/cheap/easy/difficult is it to make the TV as a display unit (instead of using a CRT monitor?) - will it save money. Lot of people have TVs! Is the quality any good? Anyone tried it?

cheers, Chandru

-----Original Message----- From: Anand Kumar Saha [mailto:anand.kumar@gavsin.com] Sent: 22 July 2003 07:14 To: linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in; ilug-cal@ilug-cal.org Subject: [ILUG-BOM] internet - a basic requirment

hello everybody,

shouldn't the govt. start considering the internet as another basic requirment, like electricity and water. the open/free source movement has been possible due to the internet. and when we talk abt reaching every corner of india to benifit each and every ppl with the outcome of such a movement, the internet is going to play the major role.

shouldn't we press the govt. to declare the internet service as a basic requirment, just like electricity ?

anand saha