Kerala Legislative Assembly has moved to Free Software and Libreoffice

users
#1

The Kerala Legislative Assembly[1] (Kerala state , India) as of July 17,
2014 produces all its documentation, both printed and digital, on a Free
Software platform using Libreoffice . Hon. Speaker announced in
Legislative assembly yesterday . The point which makes this undertaking
unique is the fact that the complete documentation at the Niyamasabha is
done in Malayalam, a complex text indic scipt

The migration process is implimented with the support of Zyxware
Technologies[2] in association with ICFOSS[3], a govt centre to promote
foss and Swathanthra Malayalam Computing(SMC)[4] , a FOSS developer
community working on Indian Language support and localizations

See below poster .

https://www.facebook.com/SMC.Project/posts/751600641550557

Some media reports about the same is published in vernacular language press
and it is available here

http://www.madhyamam.com/news/298250/140716
http://www.eastcoastdaily.com/2014/07/16/free-software/

The migration was in the light of Government of Kerala's recent order
announced its intention to transition computers in the Departments,
institutions and PSUs under it to Free and Open Source platforms, in the
opportunity caused due to expiry of support period to Windows XP. [5]

International centre for free and open source software(ICFOSS) has brought
out a Handbook last month to support the process of migration [6]

Related Links

[1] http://www.niyamasabha.org/
[2] http://www.zyxware.com/
[3] http://icfoss.in
[4] http://smc.org.in
[5] http://icfoss.in/G.O.109.pdf
[6] http://icfoss.org/FS-Migration-Draft-Handbook.pdf

~ regards

Anivar Aravind
Secretary
Swathanthra Malayalam Computing
http://smc.org.in

#2

Dear Nivar,

Thanks a lot, great news; do you happen to have a pointer about these news in English?

Best,

Charles.

#3

Dear Nivar,

Hi I am anivar

Thanks a lot, great news; do you happen to have a pointer about these news
in English?

English Press is not carried the news yet. Hope some of them will carry it
soon. and people worked on this is planning a detail post on challenges,
issues faced and outcomes . I hope i can share the link within next few
days .

~ regards
Anivar

#4

Great News Anivar! Congratulations everybody! Kerela is becoming role model for the foss efforts and no doubt, the push by different organizations and vibrant FOSS Kerala community people like you are very much helpful in achieving the same. We should try to build similar foss eco-system in other parts of India also!

#5

Some news links in English from today's coverage

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Software-Migration-ICFOSS-Hails-State-Govt/2014/07/18/article2335680.ece
http://freepressjournal.in/kerala-assembly-migrates-to-free-software-platform/
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/kerala/kerala-assembly-migrates-to-free-software-platform-149244.html
http://www.newswala.com/India-National-News/Kerala-assembly-migrates-to-free-software-platform-for-its-business-68287.html
http://www.bgr.in/news/kerala-assembly-migrates-to-free-software-platform/

#6

Thanks, just tweeted it!

Best,

Charles.

#7

A more detailed note by Zyxware is published on their Blog
http://www.zyxware.com/articles/4358/zyxware-helps-kerala-state-legislative-assembly-move-to-free-software

#8

Well done and congrats for the efforrs you guys put in.

Anousak
Lao Open Source

#9

Best News report so far
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/kerala-legislature-announces-smooth-transition-to-free-software/article6224551.ece

use this for sharing /case studies

#10

"Charles-H. Schulz":

The migration process is implimented with the support of Zyxware
Technologies[2]

Another story of embezzling of funds veiled as 'free software migration.' But officially it was enthusiasts working 12/24 for food.

#11

WTF?

We l10n people in india usually calls it as "Swathantra Software" (means
Libre/freedom Software) as reported in local language press. If you have
ambiguity with the word "free ". That is a problem in your understanding .
Please stop judging local contexts with mistaken understandings.

And In this part of the Glob we have all Govt and state aided Schools using
FOSS, Govt policies have specific mention about FOSS . Experiences like
this were state funds for an implementation partner to initiate migration .

#12

​Wonderful news, Anivar ! Thanks for the heads-up !

Henri

#13

"Charles-H. Schulz":

> The migration process is implimented with the support of Zyxware
> Technologies[2]

Another story of embezzling of funds veiled as 'free software
migration.'

How do you get embezzlement of funds out of a story about a government
body switching to open standards?

But officially it was enthusiasts working 12/24 for food.

Not entirely. Don't look now: But major corporations have donated
various resources to all manner of FOSS development.

Regards,
Jim

#14

Pay no attention to Urmas, he's a known troll / MS shill, he's always
coming out with antagonistic, and usually easily seen through,
statements.

#15

[snip]

Been here since February. I know what Urmas is :slight_smile:

Regards,
Jim

#16

:slight_smile:

My bad, I meant to reply to Anivar's email, I assumed he didn't know
what an Urmas was

Paul

#17

"Jim Seymour":

How do you get embezzlement of funds out of a story about a government
body switching to open standards?

By buying new computers from the suppliers giving the best kickbacks and dumping the astronomic sums of money into 'open source implementation' subcontractors, ending up with stock Ubuntu with a changed wallpaper.
We've seen that times and times, in many 3rd-world countries with corrupted governments.

#18

Hi Anivar!

See below poster .

https://www.facebook.com/SMC.Project/posts/751600641550557

Do you know if LibreOffice could use this picture for the LOWN report [1]?
Either an authorization or a license as CC-BY, Public Domain, LGPLv3
or MPLv2 could be great.

Regards,

[1] https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/LOWN/3

- --
William Gathoye
<william@gathoye.be>

#19

Nobody ever does that with commercial software, and it's always done
with FOSS?

Right.

Urmas, this may come as something of a surprise to you, but people
aren't as stupid as you apparently believe they are. Your incessant,
inept shilling for Microsoft is quite obvious.

Please go somewhere else to play. You've become tedious.

Jim

#20

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Hi Anivar!

> See below poster .
>
> https://www.facebook.com/SMC.Project/posts/751600641550557

Do you know if LibreOffice could use this picture for the LOWN report [1]?
Either an authorization or a license as CC-BY, Public Domain, LGPLv3
or MPLv2 could be great.

Regards,

[1] https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/LOWN/3

The picture is created by our friends. I will get needed permission from
them (CC by or PD ) and upload them in flicker or Wikimedia commons within
a day or two

~regards
Anivar Aravind
Secretary
Swathanthra Malayalam Computing (SMC)
http://smc.org.in

Consultant
International Centre for free and open source software (ICFOSS)
http://www.icfoss.in