> From: Joseph Thomas <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: [fosscomm] Free software best suited for UI card project
> To: "Indian FOSS Community Network list" <[email protected]>
> Date: Friday, September 25, 2009, 10:55 AM
> Opposition to NUID is well taken. I too
> oppose it on many considerations.
>
> But if we fail to raise the issue of selection of SW
> platforms and document formats, will it not result in the
> entire e-governance data and network unilaterally controlled
> by the software corporates in collaboration with the corrupt
> politician-bureaucracy nexus ? Failure to intervene will
> lead to the much needed administrative reforms to be
> utilised by the unscrupulous elements to restructure the
> state machinery to their advantage.
>
> Under the circumstances, I think any well meaning
> individual or organisation is left with only two
> alternatives :
>
> a) Oppose the NUID project tooth and nail and try to defeat
> it at any cost or
>
> b) Start intervening on as many points as possible
> including the very much valid question of selection of SW
> platforms, document formats, data structure, network
> architecture and data flow etc which, especially the network
> architecture and data flow, will decide whether it could be
> used as a tool of oppresssion or democratic expansion.
>
>
> One has to select between the two, I presume.
>
1) As Nagarjuna said NUID is a ill conceived solution to a problem which
doesn't exist and a solution which is not wanting to look at the real problems
that need to be worked upon [ imho ] - and needs to be opposed. Techonological
determinism has been strongly criticized by many journals.
2) state , governance and administrative transparency is a important issue -
but that doesn't mean dismantling all public systems - i guess folks take the
Mumbai trains sometimes - it means a fight for increasingly efficient,
transparent and accountable public systems .
3) The NUID signifies : a new step in India : A lead man from Infosys joining
the government in what the the government considers a important project.
Something similar to Ford joining the government. Why have this artificial
barrier between state and proprietary companies which exist for profit . We all
know the primary interests of major shareholders of any company, its dividend
and profit of their company. Any shareholder of a proprietary company is
definitely not going to support free software and use it in an important
project. Hence raising the question of why public systems are not using public
goods needs to be also raised strongly.
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