On Saturday 04 January 2003 22:55, vinayak_hegde@softhome.net wrote:

****************************************  * LUG meet on 12 Jan. 2003 @ VJTI  ****************************************

All American companies do "offshore developement" in  India. We build the software, they sell it, they make  the money. Why not get paid for own work? They make millions  and pass on measly thousands to us. All Those who say  they employ us are wrong. We can sustain ourselves, though  this approach is slightly unrealistic in today,s global  economy. Our domestic potential is HUGE. They depend on us,  not us on them to a very great extent. However we tend to  overlook this "obvious" fact.

Could'nt agree more. And pray why is this unrealistic. We are less economically developed because of stupid government policies and monopolies. This has resulted in more than 70% of our tax revenues being frittered away in salaries and sops to sections with political clout. Further the issues of IPR and copyrights are cleverly used by developed countries to keep products out and immigration and labour laws to keep people out. Farm products are kept out in the name of environmental protection (while merrily dumping nuclear waste in africa). In plain words developed countries are more protected than the "protected" un developed countries. So the government must level the playing field by specifying Swantatra software in all government procurement. And we can start by refusing to use closed software (even Indian made). Using imported Swatantra software would not be a problem as it would benefit all those who care to study the source.

"Swatantra" software will break these shackles by making  computers and software accessible to the common man on  the street. However I may hastily add this is just one of  the factors under consideration.

Forward to the Brave new GNU world :-).

jtdsouza@softhome.net