Previous PageA Response of Professionals in Information Kerala Mission to
the points raised in the study commissioned by the Free Software Foundation - Page 9
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The study undertaken by FSF is thoroughly unprofessional and not at all factual. We reject the findings of the study completely. The report is aimed at resolutely tainting the image of the mission and for purposefully abrogating the local self government computerisation programme in toto. Meanwhile we would like to raise specific technical objection to the manner in which the e-governance issue has been raised by FSF as a professional body. We feel that FSF has approached the problem of computerisation of local self governments as a simple technology matter which is very dangerous. The attempt to reduce e-governance to a few products, and negating the processes as such, is despicable even if the view point has been promoted with a narrow interest of attacking IKM and its products.
IKM has adopted a human centred approach to ICT application with a critical focus on process improvement. This we feel is very critical to any e-governance programme in general but assumes much greater significance in the context of the sweeping changes that have been made in the mandate, scope and functioning of LSGIs in the state. Any attempt to undertake an evaluation of IKM, isolating its efforts from the context, the processes and the methodologies developed and adapted by IKM, is liable to be partial and incomplete. Promoting such naive and non-comprehensive approaches to appraising technology projects is irrational and needs to be opposed.
From the detailing given above and the Annexure, it is more than evident that the study undertaken by FSF is shoddy and unprofessional and the publication of the report is a highly irresponsible and negligent measure. We therefore request the FSF to publicly denounce the report and tender an unconditional apology to the people of Kerala for thoroughly misleading them and for tarnishing and tainting individuals and public bodies.
VI.
Annexure