A Response of Professionals in Information Kerala Mission to the points raised in the study commissioned by the Free Software Foundation - Page 11
 
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2. Other errors and mistakes in the report

There are a few domain related issues on which the positions taken in the document are erroneous and invalid. We are enlisting them here for completeness.[i]

Erroneous statement 1
The state of Kerala had embarked on a new phase of development in decentralized governance by devolving 35 - 40 percentage of State’s plan funds to Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs), since 1996.
[report, page 1]

Fact

 The devolution of funds started only during the financial year 1997-98.

Erroneous statement 2
Massive efforts were put in for the formulation, implementation and monitoring of development plans at the Panchayath level.
[report, page 1]

Fact

 Massive efforts were indeed put in for the formulation of plans. The reality is that not much effort was put for the monitoring of the developmental plans. The Performance Audit Team was introduced as early as 1998. [ii] However the experience [iii] shows that this performance audit could not be conducted then and the audit mechanism had to be thoroughly revamped in 2000.

Erroneous statement 3
Huge amount of data was collected at the grass root level with maximum people’s participation as part of the Peoples Plan Campaign (PPC).
[report, page 1]

Fact

The Mass Campaign was approved[iv] to empower the local bodies to undertake the local needs assessment and formulation and implementation of Plan Programmes, and not for data collection at grass root level. Local data consolidation was attempted during the Ninth Plan period mainly for the preparation of 'Vikasana Report' in all LSGIs. Apart from this specific sectoral data collection was attempted only in a few LSGIs.

Erroneous statement 4
Planning Commission approved the [KINLB] project and allocated Rs. 30 crores. Out of the total project outlay Rs. 10 crores was released during 1999.
[report, page 1]

Fact

Here an impression is created that Rs.10 crore was released to IKM in 1999. The fund release from Planning Commission to the State was over three years. Out of this the State Government has released only an amount of Rs.13.18 crores as on 30 June 2004 to IKM in the last five years.

Erroneous statement 5
The report stated that IKM decided to make use of Windows 2000 Server as the operating system (OS). Till then, the Operating System used at IKM was Windows NT. IKM claims, it will have the largest Windows 2000 installation in India. This change in technology selection in just one year is a clear indicator of potential risk associated with use of proprietary technologies.
[report, page 3-4]

Fact

The Technology Choice document (1999)[v] indicated that the operating system would be Windows NT. Changing to Windows 2000 was not a change in technology but just a platform upgrade. IKM had started evaluating the beta versions of Windows 2000 from the very beginning itself. The project plan also indicated that the procurement of software for state-wide implementation would be with full upgrade advantage.

 

[i]        We are however bearing with the numerous spelling mistakes including those of 'Panchayat' and 'Vellanad', several terminological issues and style related aspects including lack of page numbering, which should never occur in a professional report.

[ii]       G.O. No. 69/98/LSGD dated 21/03/98

[iii]       G.O. 31238/PA4/2000/LSGD dated 03/08/2000

[iv]       G.O. (MS) No. 10/96/Plg dated 30/06/1996

[v]      The Technology Choice made by IKM was made on a detailed study of the various technology options available made in the context of LSGI computerisation as envisaged by IKM. This was approved by the Technical Committee of IKM (G.O. (MS) 38/1999/PLG dated 12/8/1999) consisting of eminent persons such as Dr. S. Ramani (Director, NCST, Mumbai), Dr. M.A. Ananthakrishnan (Chairman, IT Advisory, Committee, Tamil Nadu), Late Dr. C.J. Johny (Director & Head, Science & Society Division, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi) and chaired by Dr. I.S. Gulati, Vice Chairman, Kerala State Planning Board.