It has been reported that Red Hat India, a joint venture of Red Hat
Inc --a leading supplier of Linux systems --has entered into a strategic
alliance with ER&DCI, a organisation under the ministry of information
technology to popularize Linux in the government sector. Apart from evangelizing
the benefits of adopting Linux, it will also work towards developing local
language interfaces and training to professionals for implementation and
support for Linux-based systems.
Independent software developers in India are reported to have already
made ready a Tamil version of Linux. A Hindi version is said to be in an
advanced stage of development.
The second alternative is to develop application packages that can
be shared on the Internet platform so that once online connectivity is
established, any system will have access to shared software services.
Thirdly, Government should also establish contact with US based Kannada
speaking software professionals like Mr Sheshadri Vasu (Developer of Baraha
software) to develop customized application software for use in Government
offices.
An IDC survey has predicted that Linux would emerge as the leading operating
system for servers in the next three years in India, with an annual growth
rate of 80 per cent. With all the above initiatives, hopefully, more than
80 % of the software requirements of the Government can be freed from the
clutches of "License Raj" in software.
I request the Karnataka Government to share its plans in
this regard with the public. Naavi
June 28, 2001
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