[fsug-calicut] Fwd: Article sent from The Hindu

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Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 13:24:08 +0530

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Subject: Article sent from The Hindu
Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 12:54:07 +0530
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Source: The Hindu
 (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/10/14/stories/2002101404040400.htm)

Southern States
 -
Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram
&nbsp;&nbsp;

`Friends' to go in for free software



By Our Special Correspondent




THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
OCT. 13.

The Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT), which ran into a
 copy right-related controversy over the software it developed for `Friends'
 here recently, has decided to go in for free software.

The C-DIT said in an official release here on Thursday that the Secretary
 (Information Technology), Aruna Sunderarajan, had given permission to
 develop Linux-based software for `Friends' (Fast, Reliable, Instant,
 Efficient Network for Disbursement of Service).

The C-DIT said it would develop the software in collaboration with
 volunteering firms and organisations. Firms and organisations interested in
 the development of application software in Linux-based systems can join the
 effort. The C-DIT would give the leadership and coordinate the efforts.
 Applications for joining the venture should reach the C-DIT before October
 20.

The `Friends' centres under the Information Technology Department now use
 Windows-based software. The C-DIT, a Government agency, had entrusted its
 development to a private firm. Subsequently, modification of the system was
 entrusted to another private firm. Police raided this firm on complaints
 that it was using the source code developed by the first firm for further
 development of the system. The C-DIT was accused of passing on the source
 code to the second firm.

Meanwhile, the Government has declined permission to Pattenchery panchayat in
 Palakkad district to its request to use GNU/Linux on computers to be
 purchased by it. The panchayat had adopted a resolution urging the
 Government to allow it to use GNU/Linux and forwarded it to the Government.
 It received a reply from the Secretary (Local Self-Government) six months
 later directing it to use Windows as the operating system.

Apart from the issue of the Government forcing a costly software over free
 software on the panchayat, the Government Order has raised questions about
 the autonomy of the panchayat. The order showed that the panchayat, which is
 described as a local self-government after decentralisation, did not have
 even the freedom to make a choice of the software.

An official of the Information Technology Department said it had no objection
 to the panchayat using GNU/Linux-based systems. However, issues of servicing
 the software were involved.

The official said he would be talking to the panchayat authorities to
 ascertain facts and would be helping it in its choice.

Several countries are now turning to open and free software for its
 e-governance programmes. They include several European countries, China,
 Taiwan, Australia, Egypt, Pakistan and Nepal. The free software licence,
 which is called `copy left', gives the user freedom to use, copy, learn,
 modify and redistribute the software under the same terms.








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