http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/02/stories/2010110252270900.htm
* Aadhaar software locked in with ‘Windows' * Deepa Kurup
BANGALORE: In its technology statement, Aadhaar, the massive Government
of India project that seeks to enrol citizens, puts on record its
commitment to using open technological standards. However, the
government of Kerala — the only State that mandates the use of Free and
Open Source Software (FOSS) in governance — recently found that the
client enrolment software used is only compatible with Windows, the
proprietary operating system owned by Microsoft.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) mandates that all
‘middleware' used in Aaadhaar must be vendor neutral. However, by using
software that is only Windows-compliant, UID applications have already
established a clear vendor lock-in. In Kerala, which has embraced open
platforms, this is a vexatious issue because Virtual Device Managers –
that provide an interface for applications to devices such as biometric
devices – are not Linux-compatible.
Speaking to The Hindu, Ashok Dalwai, Deputy Director-General, UIDAI,
said this is a “Kerala-specific issue.” He confirmed that all enrolment
software is “purely for the Windows platform.” “For now, we have asked
Kerala to go ahead with laptops with Windows. Our developers will work
towards Linux compliance later.”
However, public agencies implementing Aadhaar in Kerala find this
unacceptable because it violates the State's FOSS policy. Kerala is
slated to implement the project in November. The three enrolment
agencies — i...@schools, Keltron and the Akshaya project are all
government agencies — use only Linux operating systems. Prior to the
first training session conducted in Bangalore mid-October, the agencies
wrote to the UIDAI regional office in Bangalore pointing out
difficulties in complying with a Windows-only regime.
“It is highly embarrassing and disappointing to see that proprietary
applications are necessary, at least to start with,” says Anvar Sadath,
executive director, i...@schools. He emphasises that this is not a debate
that pits Kerala versus UIDAI. “It has larger implications for a
‘knowledge society.' Can we imagine a situation where we revert to
proprietary vendors to provide necessary upgradation/support to the data
repository of over one billion people?” he asks. Besides, FOSS operating
systems/applications offer huge cost-advantages, thereby saving precious
public money (by using FOSS, i...@schools alone saves up to Rs. 11 crore
per year). Mr. Sadath insists that vendors be forced to develop/manage
the necessary plug-ins or drivers for Linux support.
“This must be included in all tenders floated by the agency.”
FOSS activists find the proposal to “migrate to Linux later”
unacceptable. Says Prabir Purkayastha of the Delhi Science Forum: “This
is doubly problematic as it would drive an organisation [in Kerala]
which is on an open platform to a closed platform, harming their own
work. It also violates the UIDAI's declared policy.”
He believes that in the hurry to politically show results, UIDAI should
not land up on closed platforms at the cost of policy and long-term goals.
--
Krittika Vishwanath
www.itforchange.net
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
Tel:9535321980
Read our Teacher's Communities of Learning project's blogs, lesson plans and
discussions here:http://bangalore.karnatakaeducation.org.in/
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