hello.

a friend of mine has recently launched a project that aims to spread basic computer literacy using free software in the semi-urban and rural areas of the South 24 Parganas district of WB. he has primarily identified two or three localities where the programme can be initiated as test cases. if these prove successful, he wishes to spread to other areas. he has formed an NGO to handle the affair, and the basic logistics have been planned. in this regard, he wishes to raise certain issues and place certain questions in front of fsf-india and fsf-westbengal, and has asked me to mediate. so here they are.

1. the programme is aimed at beginner-level students of the largely poor and lower-middle-class populations (who are a majority in the designated area), and will try to train them to the point where they should be able to impart training to the next generation of students. the orientation of the course will be towards providing basic computing skills which will (at least) enable them to compete in the informal sector of the market (eg. net cafe-s, dtp setups, medical transcription setups, small-scale computer training centres and so forth). the questions are, A. what kind of syllabus needs to be framed? what software should be included? B. what is an ideal duration for a course that accepts computer-illiterate people and leaves them at the intended skill level as indicated above?

2. whom should they approach for funds? government aid can be ruled out because first, it is very difficult to solicit successfully and secondly, it wil carry a baggage of political and bureaucratic complications that had best be avoided. there is the option of talking to 'linux' businesses which seem interested in increasing spending in india. will it be acceptable to or compaible with the free software philosophy to receive financial support from redhat or novell in exchange of a certain 'branding' of the training programme (supposing they demand that)? if no, then what other options do they have?

3. in order to set a credible and fixed standard for the programme and award a meaningful certificate to the graduates, they need an authoritative body to affiliate the project. will fsf-india frame/endorse the syllabus and act (on its own or through its west bengal chapter) as certifying authority for the course?

4. should they restrict their scope to setting up independent training centres or should they also start an awareness and advocacy programme at the colleges of the designated region and try to get them to invite the course? how can fsf-india help them in approaching these institutions?

if anyone has any comments outside the scope of these issues, please make them. i will forward a summary of the discussions to my friend.

thanks.

tathagata banerjee co-ordinator fsf-westbengal