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Is Linux Improving Life Of Poor In India?
mood6 writes "Linux Journal has a nice article on Automating Government with e-Governance. It discusses Linux usage by the Indian government to improve the lives of the rural poor (interesting look at how the IT boom in India is benefiting the poor). The article covers some of the difficulties in deploying Linux in non-English languages for government usage. Good read for those looking at Linux in e-Governance projects and a good follow up to a previous article by Tom Adelstein. In support of full disclosure: I wrote the article and the platform was developed by Delixus, my current company."
Although Ghandi has refused the position, I heard that one of the main reasons the previous prime minister of India was so unpredictably ousted was because the rural constituents felt marginalized by his focus on developing high-tech industry while regular industries and agriculture were suffering. I think there's a luddite streak running through the Indian poor that was previously unnoticed.
Too busy staying alive... ~ R.A.
... and developing countries Linux offers a viable alternative to commercial software (Read Microsoft). Linux offers a wonderful opportunity to provide services in many cash strapped communities and is really helping to bridge the "digital divide".
The company I work for has recently started a program of donating old PCs to schools in various parts of our country. Of course the schools (Who can't afford to buy hardware) can't afford the licensing fees on commercial software, so Linux (And many other open source products) is filling the gap and providing working systems for teaching and learning.
Free Firefox news reader.
The outcomes of the latest election were interpreted by the political experts as an outright rejection of the notion that the country's newly-found strength in IT had benefitted the rural poor. In the light of this, it would seem unlikely that any one technology (not just Linux) would have had a noticeable improvement in their lives. Then again, perception and reality can sometimes be two completely opposite things, so one can never be sure of that either.
That sounds great, but how is Delixus not trying to place themself in a similar position to Microsoft? Delixus is still trying to make a profit even if the OS is free. They claim Linux provides the ability to change vendors ... sure so does Microsoft. But everyone knows once any organization choses a software system (*cough* Delixus' e-Governance *cough*), they rarely change. This is not a Linux thing, it's a business thing.
Again, this is great, but the article says near the top how pension offices were so far away from villages. Are internet cafes closer to villages than pension offices? Uhh...
I'm not trolling.. I'm not a troll (look at my history to see that) but seriously..
:D
LINUX IS JUST SOFTWARE.
It will not:
1.) Feed the hungry.
2.) Bring world peace.
3.) Become a viable renewable power source.
It's just free software.. and that's a good thing..
Simon.
how is some piece of software going to improve your life if you're poor. It can improve your life if you're rich though
did you forget to take your meds?
Heck, why not just call me when Linux is less fattening and helps cure cancer, too.
What good is free Software without the Hardware to go with it? Or the Internet access to seriously get to use it?
Btw, in any case you rarely find a bought copy of windows in those parts...
- 1337poll.tk - check it out!
Ok how are slshdotters supposed to know what's right for India? Frankly I dont give a damn about what slashdot thinks is right for India. We Indians know what's right for India. All the posts about "give them food & medicine first" that's all stupidness.
I'm going to go offtopic here, cause it's somewhat relevant plus I need to rant:
And all the faux intellectuals you see on TV, half of whom have never stepped on Indian soil, make me laugh as they try to analyze the Ghandi win. All this sudden chatter of the "negelcted poor" etc. this is all BS speech. The media's TV analysts have absolutely no clue how and why the poor in India votes.
The media has twisted Congress party to look to the outside world like they are anti market economy when in fact the opposite is true. Anyone who sees the election outcome in India as a leftward shift away from economic reforms has no clue what their talking about.
This win for congress has NOTHING to do with economics. The reforms were initiated in full force by Congress party. Everyone knows this.
India's economic reforms are on track and will remain so.
Actually on the contrary. A lot of developing nations, I think in particular in Africa and S. America are (trying) to use agriculture to boost the long-term standard of living in their country. The reason why it doesn't work very well is not because of something inherent in IT over agriculture but because the rich countries (big culprits being US, EU and Japan) have huge farm and fishery subsidies whilst they are willing to outsource IT with abandon (as many unemployed Slashdotters know). However a recent WTO ruling was that a lot of the current subsidy regime is illegal (I think this was an action brought by Brazil against US sugar subsidies) so we may finally see some action. Also the EU is starting to recognise that its fishery subsidies are helping to destroy European fish stocks.
The Delixus website is quite scant on information on eGovernance. See here. It mentions that eGovernance runs on Windows as well as Linux. With that in mind, the article only boils down to the same benefits of Linux mentioned everywhere else. (Whether the specific benefits mentioned are actual or merely popular perceptions is often debated). I could easily see someone writing a similar Windows-version of the article, quoting the merits of Windows and saying "Windows is Helping the Poor Folk in India".
I think the article would've been better spent on what eGovernance really is, and why it benefits poor people. I'd find it more interesting, anyway.
I like that. Indians steal your jobs everyday, and you're still telling us to "develop" like the good patronising westerner that you are.
I did actually (go subscribers). I came away thinking that it was really talking about eGovernance, and how Linux was condusive to making it work. Everything mentioned could've been implemented on top of Windows (and since the Delixus website says eGovernance runs on Windows as well, I assume it has). I think it should've been "Is Technology Improving Life of Poor in India?", because it wasn't unique to Linux.
Sure it helps, but the question is to what degree. I could also assert that selling my bubble gum for fifty cents less than before has helped the average man pay his taxes, and that would be true. Not having any experience with India I can't speak to disclaim this article, but just because something is 'helpful' doesnt make it necessary, relevant, or worthy of publicity stunts by affiliated news organisations.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Linux, but this kind of article makes the FOSS movement look a little self-righteous.
Not a lot of people in India speak French, German, Spanish, Italian, etc etc.
Dont worry, the new eastern european EU member have ample supply of cheap workers than are fluent in german, french and other languages. Spanish and Italian may not be required as these countries already have their own underpaid workers in the poorer parts of the country.
I beg to differ with your "Linux is a very difficult product to commoditize" statement. Linux is turning operating systems into a commodity - the tool is cheap, it's the expertise to use that particular tool that's pricey.
.com era and are now struggling, outsourcing is bad. If you're a poor farmer in India whose child just turned the educaion that you paid for with the sweat of your brow into a steady, paying job, outsourcing is good.
As with any tool, you have to take the good with the bad. Linux cannot choose sides - as this post points out, Linux is just software - it itself has no moral compass.
Too, which side of the equation you on seems to define the morality - if you're someone who made out like a bandit in the
I've been affected by outsourcing myself - the job I held was "terminated" since the whole department was picked up and moved to a cheaper part of the country. Different story, same effect - I was out of a job for a year, and took a lower paying position to feed my family.
Anyone "talking up Linux" is good, IMHO - even my former employers. As you said, it's not Linux's fault. It's just market forces in action.
Soko
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
Dont worry, the new eastern european EU member have ample supply of cheap workers than are fluent in german, french and other languages.
Not really accurate - these countries have an ample supply of relatively cheaper workers, some of whom are fluent in German, but relatively less in French or even English. In the short term, we're more likely to see them applying for jobs in western europe (where, btw, they still need a work permit) rather than have the jobs go to them. And for every job "lost" by a western european to an eastern european, a matching job will be destroyed in eastern europe to the profit of companies in western europe (like how are small family run dairy farms in poland going to compete with french or italian industrial dairies?) Finally, this gap will fill in much faster than the US/Indian gap will - look at how fast eastern germany was assimilated after reunification.
Spanish and Italian may not be required as these countries already have their own underpaid workers in the poorer parts of the country.
I haven't heard about the hordes of cheap programmers in spain and italy - heck, i know people working in IT in spain who make good money and enjoy a good life. Average income in southern europe has been lower than in northern europe for a long time, and yet the jobs (at least the IT jobs we're talking about) haven't moved south to date - why expect this to change?
#!/usr/bin/english
That's the reason why Chandrababu Naidu, a sophisticated and technology-aggressive politician, got the boot.
Good basic governance comes before e-governance.
FREE SOFTWARE IS A PHILOSOPHY , NOT A PRODUCT
Software is a huge drain on India's forex gains , If India does not buy cart loads of MS licenses from the US (paying out hard earned $$$) , that money can be utilized for better things than buying a new learjet for you know who.
Slowly Free Software is bringing economic equilibrium in the world of software ... and
it is not negligible . PERIOD.
That said , India's defence system is starting to use Free Software for the pure safety of not depending on Microsoft (or any other closed source vendor). They are shifting from Solaris to Free Software slowly ..
Independence and Freedom , be they economical or technological is important for any country , be it India , Brazil or China.
This is the promise I see in Free Software
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur
I think it should've been "Is Technology Improving Life of Poor in India?", because it wasn't unique to Linux.
Then your logic is failed. The correct answer are:
Is Linux Improving Life Of Poor In India? Yes
Is uniquely Linux Improving Life Of Poor In India? No
No, it's quirks like that which made me switch to Linux in the first place. The problem would not be there in the beginning.
toresbe
Improve the lives of indians by letting them have jobs!!
Yes, this means not discriminating against them because they aren't US citizens. An indian citizen is no less deserving than someone in the USA of a high standard of living. If we are really concerned about the livelihoods of our fellow humans (and not some bizarre ideology where american lives are worth more than indian lives) this means abandoning all these silly 'buy american' campaigns or protesting when IT companies outsource.
If you liked this thought maybe you would find my blog nice too:
I think a more pertinent question is "have the computers made any difference to India's poor" and guess the answer again would be no. However, it is hoped they will make some difference say 10-15 yrs down the line.
:)
Linux won't make an impact on India's poor for a long time after comps have. The main reason is that there is hardly anyone who buys software in India. I don't know ANYONE who ever bought an XP cd, and I am not a loner.
Another point is that for the poor uninitiated people, linux in its present avataar is not an OS to be used. Believe me, at least in India, linux is very much of a geek's OS. People who know linux are mostly university graduates who actually can afford even windows ( if they ever bought it that is).
So for me, I would say, it is going to be a long time before we can even think that linux will be helpful for poor.
Perhaps I didn't express my sentiment very well...
Linux IS a very difficult product to commoditize. Shall we install Debian, Suse, Redhat, Slackware, Gentoo, LFS or someother distro? What's the difference between the distros? How do I know I'm picking the right one?
Compare and contrast with for example the Microsoft way of doing things (and this is not an MS advocacy). There is Windows 2003 server. Want a File and Print box? W2K3. Want a Web Server? W2K3. Want a SQL server? W2K3 + one clearly defined addon. Want a Mail Server? W2K3 + one clearly defined addon.
Look at the Futures market. You don't buy Australian Pork Bellies, you don't buy US pork bellies, and you don't buy Chinese pork bellies. You buy Pork Bellies.
When you look at it like that, MS has a commoditized product, whereas the Linux 'marketplace' is fragmented.
It's for this very reason that when I evangelize, I push FreeBSD.
Although living standards have dramatically improved for all Indians, it is still widely considered to be a third world country.
-Approximately 25% of the Indian population are below the poverty line
-The water supply is so polluted that people must buy or boil their water.
-The poor are discriminated against in education.
-Health care in India? What health care?
So, when reading this, did anyone else think that with the exception of the water supply issue, these are all applicable to the U.S. as well? Obviously not to the same degree, but still.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
IT has in fact made millions of workers filthy rich.
Filthy rich ? Definitely not. Comfortable or better than before ? Sure.
And millions ? Last time I check the Indian IT industry dosent even directly employ a million people.
I would have to guess the poor don't even know what or have never even heard of Linux. If I were living in abject poverty I think I'd be more concerned with putting food on the table or having a roof over my head than realzing the benefits of some silly computer.
Let's face facts:- the Indian electorate had already voted for the reforms policy and, if you will e-governance in the 1999 elections. Even a cursory analysis of the voting pattern would in fact show that these results were less of a poor-versus-rich vote, and more of a get-that-fat-cat-politician-out-he's-taken-enough- bribes-already vote. Helps if you get your alliances right as well.
More than mere navel gazing.