While on the topic of governments a recent post from the iscussion on
IT@school in kerala
-abhi
-----Original Message-----
From: Hariraj M R
To: Mailinglist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 10/11/02 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Mailinglist] Platform of choice
I think, government of Kerala has learned it the hard
way. By burning their fingers. Did you know that CDit,
the IT spear head of the State Government is the 2nd
accused in the first criminal case ever to be
registered under the IT Act. This is what happened
according to a report in MADHYAMAM.
In 1999 the CDit entered in to some MoU with the
Microsoft. ( I am searching the eact text of this
MoU). CDit is the "total solution provider" in IT for
the Government. When the Govt wanted to start a
"Computer Integrated Service Centre" popularly called
'friends' (the place where you can remit all the
government dues under one roof) they constituted a IT
Mission Group. C Dit was requiered to submit a report
on the project. There in the company called
Comteckcomes to the picture. It is said that the idea
was to start a joint venture. It was decided to use
the Microsfot Technology based on the MoU and Comtech
was a company in the "Microsoft Development Forum".
This is is why the company came to the picture at all.
Otherwise we do not know any other major project done
by Comtech. We then find that the pilot project of
'friends' started to function at Trivandrum. The
Software was made jointly by the Comtech and CDit. But
when there was a proposal to expand the project to
other 13 centres, the term "software made in the joint
project" sudenly changed in to "software Comtech
developed free of cost for CDit". As usual CDit was
not slow to accept this and the project was expanded
to 13 more centres at the cost of 13 Lakhs. (Here we
pause to think, does this include the charge of
liceneced Windows version on each computer at the 13
centres. I dont think so. As far as my understanding
goes, many of the Public Sector Undertakings and Banks
are using pirated copies thinking that they are
licence. They do pay for the same. But that payment
does not make Gates any richer because it never reach
him.) After the above transaction the Comtech seem to
have claimed another 12 Lakhs to give the rights to
CDit for expanding the project to other places also.
Instead of this the Cdit entered in to an agreement to
pay Rs. 2200/- per month for each centre every month.
Based on this some 19 Lakhs of Rs. is already given to
the Comtech. It is also understood that the Comtech
had by then changed the codes and the source code was
never made available to the CDit. While so to make
some minor changes to enable acceptance of Fees by the
Kerala University through the Friends centres, the
company claimed Rs. 32000. Frustrated at the attitude
of the Comtech, it seems that the CDit approached
another private company for a new software. When this
was seen as a threat to the monopoly they enjoyed till
then the Comtech filed Criminal Complaints against the
new company and also the Director of CDit.
CDit will for sure accept a change to the free
software in this background. There is a move to make
it mandatory for government bodies to use only open
software in California and Peru.
We must move for a comprehensive legislation in this
regard according to me.
As for the carriculam at schools, I heard there is a
circular to upgrade to windows 98 or higher for all
schools. No funds are sanctioned. The government for
sure expects the schools to pirate it. I think we must
undertake a study of this in the first place and also
go forward with alternatives. We must ensure that the
students are aware of the alternatives.
HARI
=====
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beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings My wisdom flows from the
Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for
unity and love. -Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my home page.... www.geocities.com/harirajmr
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