It doesn't happen everyday that a government sets itself in a way that may well turn out to be a disaster. The recent decision by Kerala Govt. to mandate Linux in high schools is just one of them. This is in the aftermath of having banned Colas in the state. (So tell me are colas more dangerous or are cigrattes and alchol? Why not ban them instead? )
"Stallman has inspired Kerala’s transition" quotes the education minister. Since when did foreign nationals start insipiring Indian govts. to take action? The interest of a state and region are now better understod by a foreign national?
"Achuthanandan’s government to develop the state as a FOSS (free and open software systems) destination" - WHY? WHY? the govt. is now deciding on behalf of its citizens what technology will students study? after liberalisation in '91, it was amply clear that there is merit in delinking economy and politics. why link up politics and technology now?
I would really like to know whether this decision was based on any project report or finding? Why not share with the world the report if it exists? There is no single reference to any benefit the state is going to derive by making this decision in any of the news reports! Why doesn't the CM or the education minister elaborate or is that there is no benefit?
Something to add on microsoft community kerala
Digg this story:
http://digg.com/tech_news/Technology_Myopia_in_Kerala
http://manand.typepad.com/thoughts_from_india/2006/08/is_teaching_onl.html
http://vinodunny.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F162DB18909CE884!257.entry
http://abhishekkant.blogspot.com/2006/09/technology-myopia-in-kerala.html