Tamil Nadu Embraces Linux January 4, 2007
Posted by Carthik in news.trackback
Earlier last year, we saw how Kerala opened the doors of its schools to Linux. Now its the turn of its big neighbour, Tamil Nadu to choose Linux over Windows.
Tamil Nadu is a state in the south of India. The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), which is the government owned entity that brings IT-enabling services to the state has chosen Open Source solutions over Windows-based solutions.
ELCOT decided in favor of open-source software because of its lower cost than proprietary software from Microsoft Corp. and other vendors, C. Umashankar, managing director of ELCOT, said Wednesday. Open-source software also provides better ease of operation and higher security, he added.
Further, this could be just what is required for the state government to choose Linux as well. ELCOT will migrate to Linux at the server and the desktop levels. Something tells me they might choose Ubuntu for their desktop. Last year, the Ubuntu India mailing list saw some activity and the name ELCOT turned up back then too.
Ubuntu Blog 
I myself, being a programmer, find it little difficult to do some normal stuff in Ubuntu. For example, setting up of DSL in Windows is straight forward and in Ubuntu it was not the case. Add the usability of M$ Office package vs OpenOffice, I doubt whether a Govt. Employee in TN can use Linux on a day to day basis.
Although the usability of Linux has improved a lot in the past few years, its still a little away from the reach of average Munusamy.
>For example, setting up of DSL in Windows is straight forward and in Ubuntu it was not the case.
This won’t be a problem for a government since there are technical administrators and it only has to be set up one time..
>usability of M$ Office package vs OpenOffice
OpenOffice is copying the menus from M$ office so it shouldn’t be that hard for them to use it. Furthermore, the new Office would cost the government a lot because they had to teach their employees using it (the look changed a LOT).
Its nice to note that TamilNadu is moving towards Linux. Obviously, Windows users need to be trained a bit to get used to Linux, but thats well worth the trouble.
I’m sure that over next few years usability of Linux systems would have improved significantly.
I dont know, is andhra pradesh Govt. using Linux?
You guys shouls check out BOSS Linux developed by the Indian Governemt to spread opensource in India
For a govt employee who has never worked with MS Office, OO would’nt be very new. Moreover, its just very simple things they are going to do with OO, and OO can efficiently handle those tasks.
I think ELCOT will be using OpenSuSE, cos I know they are preparing tamil documentation based on OpenSuSE.
You made my day pal. I am an Ubuntu fanatic and live in Tamilnadu.
“I myself, being a programmer, find it little difficult to do some normal stuff in Ubuntu. For example, setting up of DSL in Windows is straight forward and in Ubuntu it was not the case.”
I am not sure why DSL configuration was difficult for you. I am using Airtel broadband in my home and guess what, i never did anything for the DSL connection. Just switched on the modem during installation. DHCP configures itself. Frankly, I was browsing the net while the installation was going on with the Live CD.
“I think ELCOT will be using OpenSuSE, cos I know they are preparing tamil documentation based on OpenSuSE.”
Ubuntu’s April release Fiesty Fawn has lot more support for regional languages than OpenSUSE does. Please refer the Fiesty documentation or try the Alpha release.
Tamilnadu embraces Linux, Ubuntu probably.
Earlier last year, Kerala opened the doors of its schools to Linux. Now its the turn of its big neighbour, Tamil Nadu to choose Linux over Windows.
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), which is the government owned entity that brings IT-e…
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA) is the flagship programme of Government of India for achieving education for all. Unfortunately a massive administrative and programmatic structure to implement this programme is using Windows. DISE – District Information System for Education for collecting school based data from every government run and aided school of India is totally based on Windows. Millions of Rupees could be saved if it takes lessons from ELCOT and use Ubuntu. Is anybody listening?
Can anybody help me configure my internet connection in
Ubuntu 6.06, I am using airtel broadband and my modem is ADSL(beetal 220x). pls help me, kumars4@asme.org
The yahoo link is broken.
Although the usability of Linux has improved a lot in the past few years, its still a little away from the reach of average Munusamy.
This won’t be a problem for a government since there are technical administrators and it only has to be set up one time..
Earlier last year, Kerala opened the doors of its schools to Linux. Now its the turn of its big neighbour, Tamil Nadu to choose Linux over Windows.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA) is the flagship programme of Government of India for achieving education for all. Unfortunately a massive administrative and programmatic structure to implement this programme is using Windows. DISE – District Information System for Education for collecting school based data from every government run and aided school of India is totally based on Windows. Millions of Rupees could be saved if it takes lessons from ELCOT and use Ubuntu. Is anybody listening?