We have to correct any deviations of Kerala govt from its IT policy.
But
working together will be really tough (but not impossible) considering your blind anti cpim position which is doing more harm to the free software community.
Haynes,
The it can be a non-cpim position too. But Branding everything other than only -cpim position to Anti-CPIM position will not help for a movement.
right now non-cpim is a big vacuum regarding free software as far as political and government support is considered. Why our struggle does not seem to be productive in the other states and the central government?
Free Software movement is a Social Movement. If some states realised the arguments raised by a movement it is the victory of the Movement.
You and me are part of that. You can Find various examples of Free Software & Open standards adoption in Central Govt Policies, 11th 5 year Plan, Knowledge Commission Report etc. On non-left ruled states, Tamil Nadu did some positive steps on Free Software adoption due to ELCOTs intervention. You can find similar examples from Other states.
I did a study about Free Software in Public Enterprises of Kerala for SPACE in 2005 October & November (Before Left Govt coming to power) . It clearly shows more than 95% of successful e-governance projects are on Free Software Platform . Most of them were not political decision and silent adoption by the developers (Report is available at http://space-kerala.org/downloads/foss.pdf )
And Left's adoption of Free Software Policy in Kerala is also a logical follow up of various actions & discussions initiated by Free Software Activists. Even the decision to adopt Free Software in IT@School was decided in an SCERT meeting (with the support of 85% of teachers) much before 2006 elections. But the govt came after election got the political advantage of this decision. and we are very happy about that because they are also helping FS movement by adopting new policies .
But when people are pushing Bush's binary logic of "Either you are with us or You are against us" (only-cpim positions and branding everything else as Anti-CPIM) we have to remind history.
But how did these 'some states' realise the arguments raised by the movement..... does not the other social movement's contribution count...why do free software has many takers in kerala? i think one simple reason is there are many who has seen computers and are able to use them. Another reason is people have heard of freedom and the need for it and have experienced it. Does any one think these happened after setting up internet cafes for providing free knowledge to the people of kerala? or is it only due to the awareness campaign of our's? who are these 85% of teachers? what is KSTA ....what is cpim.. why do they want to support free software.... isnt there anything else than some of the speculations which were expressed in this list? do you think the government of 2006 was result of a sudden growth from nowhere? why are you stating that it was only a case of political advantage? this is what i feel the anti-cpim factor in you. cpim is the only political party that has recognised the need and extended the official support to free software..still you are accusing cpim of taking political advantage. i have only voiced my concerns about antagonizing the people who are with us, and i have tried to point out the personal anti-cpim position of some people getting reflected in their mails which will do harm to the movement. any way i think binary is better than your unary of 'only due to free software activism'.
Haynes.