Kerala’s IT Draft Policy –
[ CAN NIC – NISG – all IT Secretaries – eGov Secretaries to LEARN from this !! and to adopt a NATIONAL POLICY like this]
Can Minister Dayanidhi Maran read this and alocate 9000 crores for NATIONAL IT Policy to ADOPT this type of IT Policy at NATIONAL LEVEL from NeGP FUNDS !!!!
The Government realizes that Free Software presents a truly unique opportunity in building a truly egalitarian knowledge society. The Government will take all efforts to develop Free Software and Free Knowledge and shall encourage and mandate the appropriate use of Free Software in all ICT initiatives..."
Preamble
1.1Developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are transforming the society in dramatic ways. These developments are creating hitherto unimaginable opportunities and possibilities, even as they pose new challenges for a society like ours
1.2 In the production processes of today’s world, information and knowledge mean a great deal more than material resources and physical inputs.
1.3 ICT has opened up the possibility of radically different information exchange patterns by facilitating faster and more efficient dissemination of information. It can play a vital role in sustaining the democratic ethos of the Indian society and ensuring a high level of transparency in governance
1.4 Having achieved high physical quality of life index and social infrastructure development, Kerala is ideally positioned to use ICT as a catalyst for the all-round economic prosperity and social uplift of its people
1.5 ICT and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) have by now turned into major sectors of economic activity in the country. Over the past one-and-a-half decades, these sectors have shown remarkable growth in the country, both in terms of export revenue and employment generation
1.6 In almost every sector of socio-economic activity ranging from industrial production to education and public healthcare, ICT now plays an important role in optimizing the processes, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of human endeavors
1.7 Growing importance of ICT in the present-day world leads to the emergence of a divide, which can be called the “digital-divide,” between those who have access to sophisticated ICT infrastructure and those who do not. This is a matter of concern to civil society at large; and a challenge that has to be overcome through conscious intervention, both from the Government and the sections on the privileged side of the “digital divide
1.8 The Government has a comprehensive view of ICT as a vehicle for transforming Kerala into a knowledge-based, economically vibrant, democratic and inclusive society. By the term “inclusive,” the Government means that the benefits of the socio-economic transformation possible through ICT should reach every single citizen of the State. This policy document defines the Government’s vision, mission and strategy for achieving the same.
Complete IT Draft policy at http://itforum.kerala.gov.in/discussion/index.htm
----- By far, the most sensible ever IT policy, one that keeps undesirable tendencies at bay. A policy that systematically removes barriers-to-entry for all, especially the underprivileged for participating in a knowledge society. Cheers to all our untiring FSF hactivists who worked behind this project. CK Raju
Thrissur
doxa@sancharnet.in
eGovernance in India 