[odf-discuss] adopters: "Two More Indian States ....."

[JohnNewell at mac.com]

At 
<http://i5bala.blogspot.com/2006/10/two-more-indian-states-may-also-avoid.html> 
Balakumar Muthu, Chennai,India blogger notes:
"Two More Indian States May Also Avoid Microsoft Products !!
"Last month, Indian state Kerala Government banned on the use of 
Microsoft Products in schools. This movement had a great impact on 
the Open Source community. Now, similarly other two Indian states 
like West Bengal and Tripura might follow this path. ......."


He directs to 
<http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=142832>
" ......  'Keep that door open,' Stallman shouted jovially to the 
crowd flocking in and out of the seminar hall during a tea-break. 
"But not the windows," added 84-year old chief minister in matching 
spirits.

"CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury seems to be open source' best 
friend in West Bengal. He doesn't stop at citing Kerala's example to 
the state governments but prescribes it to the central government 
too. "The government should be forced to use free software and 
GNU-Linux based operating systems in the delivery of information for 
public use so that costs are kept low," he maintains. For the West 
Bengal government, it has always been a balancing act between the 
demands of large global corporations and the possibility of a more 
sustainable and cheaper alternative route to implement the 
e-governance programme in the last six years.
..........
"This week, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishat (KSSP), CPI (M)'s science 
and youth outfit, is setting up a Linux helpdesk (read aggressive 
FOSS marketing wing). And if you believe KSSP activist N Sudhir, 
"Open Sources systems are not anti-profit. They just have a different 
and more ethical business model. We are out to explode the 
Microsoft-propagated myth that free software systems does not make 
money." "

-- 

	John S. Newell, III.	SEU
	JohnNewell at mac.com