1. A government that claims to support development of Free Software cannot indulge in promoting activities that are related to proprietary non-free software.
2. Free Software development is a model that puts least claim on exclusivity of territory as a prerequisite. As Alan Cox the lead developer of Linux kernel puts it, "All you need to participate in the development of Free Software is an e-mail account and access to internet". (A closed exclusive space is not mentioned here.) 3. Smart City is not a demand of unemployed IT professionals of the State. There has never been a show of strength by unemployed IT professionals demanding Government attention in the recent past. 4. Almost all qualified undergraduate engineering students (ie, those without any backpapers in the first two years) who undergo professional training in Technical institutions in Kerala get employment offers through campus placements by the beginning of third year itself. 5. Smart City is a proposed clone of Dubai Internet City - which houses big corporates involved in proprietary software services. 6. If the Government is sincere in its approach towards promoting Free Software, then it should be activating development of e-governance modules on localised versions of Free Software - where only Keralites can participate. 7. Big corporates need huge resources and plan for a long future. This will put the government machinery on immense pressure for relaxations in taxes and other freebies. This extra burden will fall on existing Keralites. 8. Smart City, Vallarpadam, Vizhinjan, Kannur Airport, Kochi Metro rail etc are all draconian projects, which when completed will create a new Kerala where majority of the existing Keralites will find no secure place to carry on with their livelihood activities. 7. Just like the middle-class plays havoc with the lives of Adivasis when they recreate their forestlands - claiming their sites and owning them, big corporates will play havoc with the lives of middle class people securing their resources and leaving them high and dry. Adivasis cannot think on the perceptions and hidden agendas of middle class people. Similarly middle class people cannot think on the perceptions and hidden agendas of corporates. 9. The government should desist itself from becoming part of market activities and concentrate on guaranteeing livelihoods to people who are getting marginalised on a day to day basis. 10. The government should not indulge in activities that will cause a loss of dignity for an Information Technologist - she should be allowed to project a dignified image when her profession confronts common people. Smart City will be in contrast to this because middle-class people themselves will get worried and anxious over rights of their resources when they confront corporate IT professionals. If you agree to this, please add your name, particulars and other comments and send it to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------ CK Raju --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala run by Global Alternate Information Applications (GAIA) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
