[ossig] Kerala (Indian state) draft IT policy has strong FOSS and Open Standard elements

[Ditesh Kumar]

>From http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/18/stories/2007011801800700.htm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The draft information technology (IT) policy
released by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan here on Wednesday proposes
to make Kerala a cradle of knowledge workers. It aims to upgrade the
productivity, skill and knowledge levels of the citizen.

Proposals include establishment of an International Centre for Free
Software and Computing for Development, ITES Training Centre (in Kochi)
and extension of Internet to all educational institutions and villages
by 2010. Around 3,000 broadband-enabled information hubs called Akshaya
e-Centres will be set up in difference parts of the State.

The Government will support private initiatives to set up IT parks.
Private IT parks that meet a minimum set of standards shall be promoted
by the Government as an integral part of the State's IT infrastructure,
if the parks desire so. The Government will expand Technopark in
Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi on its own accord and in
partnership with private infrastructure providers. Focus areas include
e-governance, free software and development of appropriate technologies.
The State will network with national and international organisations and
industry for research and development in Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) and knowledge sharing. The proposed Centre for Free
Software will focus on developing technologies relevant for social and
economic advancement in developing countries.

The policy stresses that Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) will be
used in e-governance projects. Open standards such as Unicode and Open
Document Format and Open Architectures will be followed in e-governance
projects to avoid total dependence on select vendors. The Government
proposed to develop the State as the FOSS destination in the country. It
will provide special incentives to companies developing FOSS. The policy
says that the State will try to make maximum use of ICT in governance.
Taking the Right to Information Act in its true spirit, the Government
will take up ICT-enabled programmes for efficient flow of information
between citizens and the Government.

The Government will make use of all the media tools and emerging
technologies to ensure proper communication between the Government and
the citizen. The Government will promote the use of Web sites, e-mails
and other news communication facilities in various Government and
semi-Government organisations.