[glug-t] Goa government - Microsoft collusion - scam?

Hi,

After you read the article please also see:
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=061983

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Laptop_scheme_draws_flak/articleshow/3147056.cms

Laptop scheme draws flak
20 Jun 2008, 0324 hrs IST,TNN


MARGAO: Computer savvy teachers of educational institutions in Goa
have taken the laptop scheme introduced by the state government with a
pinch of salt.

Leave aside the fact that the prices of computers offered by the
government through the scheme are on a higher side compared to those
available through dealers in the open market. The scheme has also
raised eyebrows over the sincerity of the education department in the
implementation of the scheme.

The circular issued by the directorate of education (DoE) making the
purchase of Microsoft Windows Vista operating system and the MS-office
software compulsory also smacks of ulterior motives, a section of
teachers TOI spoke to felt.

"Why is the government hell bent on forcing the Microsoft operating
system and office suite? There are ample choices of operating systems
and office suites and some are totally free," one of the teachers of
an aided government school remarked.

A large section of teachers felt that the government was curtailing
their rights in exercising their choice to buy laptops. "The
government appears to have not come out of the hangover of the
cyberage scheme. The authorities should bear in mind that the laptops
are not being given free by the government but the money is being
loaned at no interest. There are a variety of models and vendors to
choose from. The government must respect every individual teacher's
choice," a lecturer in a South Goa based college remarked.

Proponents of Linux, an open source operating system too have
expressed reservations over the motives of the government in bundling
Microsoft Windows and Office software with the laptops. Linux has
grown in popularity over the last few years and the number of Linux
users is growing at a rapid pace in Goa too. Users of this open source
operating system have also formed Linux users' groups in Goa that meet
regularly to share their knowledge and experience with others.

Said Omkar Ainapur, a lecturer who swears by Linux, "It is
disheartening to note that the Goa government is promoting Microsoft
Windows when the latest trend is to switch over to an open source
software."

"The open source software, besides being free to use and share, is
fully downloadable. The latest version of the software Open Office Org
2.4 is fully compatible with Miscrosoft's MS Office and comes packed
with all the features of MS Office," Ainapur informed.

While the open source software comes free, the professional version of
MS Office costs Rs 17,000 and the student/teacher version is pegged at
Rs 6,000.

Be that as it may, the skewed manner of implementation of the scheme
has also raised eyebrows in some quarters. "The scheme has been
implemented from this year for teachers of high school and higher
secondary schools, thus defeating the very purpose for which it was
meant for.

"Had the scheme been implemented from the college level downwards in
phases, it would have served the desired purpose as the usage of
computers is higher at college level than in high schools and higher
secondary schools.

"What is the point in giving laptops to teachers whose academic
curriculum requirements do not merit such a provision?" a senior
lecturer from a government aided college countered.

Meanwhile, the revelation that the higher prices tagged to the
computers offered through the scheme smacked of a scam in the making.
Prospective beneficiaries of the scheme are worked up over the issue.

"The whole scheme definitely is a sham. If the government is really
sincere in its motives, it would do well to act as a facilitator of
the scheme by requesting the suppliers to offer discounts directly to
the beneficiary. If not, somewhere somebody is getting kickbacks," a
college teacher remarked.




--
Aditya Manthramurthy
B. Tech, Computer Science and Engineering
National Institute of Technology, Trichy
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