Is anyone in the LUG involved in this?
P.S. For an idea of what I'm up to next week, see: May 27-31: "Open Source Solutions Showcase" http://www.flora.ca/osss2002/ --- Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/> See http://weblog.flora.ca/ for announcements, activities, and opinions Want to retain copyright? Author Free Software! More on Peruvian free software bill / 1841 Copyright speech ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 25 May 2002 06:54:46 -0400 From: Michael Gurstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [CPI-UA] FW: [bytesforall_readers] Old PCs can give schools new life -----Original Message----- From: Ashish Kotamkar [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: May 25, 2002 12:33 AM To: Bytesforall_Readers@Yahoogroups. Com Subject: [bytesforall_readers] Old PCs can give schools new life Old PCs can give schools new life (http://www.propoor.org/news/xar0518.asp#3) May 18, 2002, Kolkata, India Source: Times of India All Government-run schools in West Bengal can get free computers if corporates in the State donate their obsolete machines. A software firm has offered to use Linux operating system to bring the dead machines back to life for use in schools. This will save the State Government�s depleted coffers of several crores of rupees. An Indo-US joint venture firm is in talks with West Bengal Government through nodal agency Webel to offer zerocost installation of computers and train teachers in Government schools. The programme has already been implemented at 600 schools in Goa. "We tied up with an NGO to import obsolete 386 and 486 series PCs. Since, they were treated as junk, we got them for free. Upgraded with Linux, they are now in use at schools," said Shankar Iyer, training manager of Red Hat India which initiated the programme. Following the Goa success story, NGOs and Governments in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have evinced interest. Gujarat was also on the firm�s radar but has been temporarily removed following the disturbances. In West Bengal, the company hopes this will happen as early as next month. Iyer is now trying to tie up with NGOs in Kolkata to drum up support for the cause. The hurdle comes from unexpected quarters - In India, more so in Kolkata, old PCs too have value. "We hope large corporates will forgo the monetary benefit and donate them," he said. The company has tied up with Indian Institute of Rural Automation, an educational society for spreading computer education and total IT solutions in rural and urban areas. This will help the company push Linux training to enterprises in rural and urban areas. With the focus on Government and rural sector for Linux adoption, the company is pushing its "cheaper and better" USP. Linux costs a fourth that of other operating systems since it does not follow the proprietory approach. Since there is no concept of piracy, it is cheaper to implement. "We are in talks with West Bengal, Uttaranchal, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh Governments for implementing it in their e-governance initiatives," he added. - Ashish ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Save 30% on Web addresses! Get with the times, get a web site. Share information, pictures, your hobby, or start a business. Great names are still available- get yours before someone else does! http://us.click.yahoo.com/XmK3jA/nFGEAA/sXBHAA/C7EolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -- To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the body "unsubscribe ilug-cal" and an empty subject line. FAQ: http://www.ilug-cal.org/help/faq_list.html
