Kerala to promote Free Software

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 17 (UNI) The Marxist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government in Kerala today released its draft Information Technology policy with a call to promote free and open source software.

Talking to newspersons here after releasing the document, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan made it clear that those IT firms coming to invest in Kerala should be aware that the employees hired by them should also enjoy trade union rights.

''International Labour Organisation (ILO) is not an organisation headed by the CPI(M). ILO's guidelines on labour rights will be applicable in the IT sector also,'' he said, but evaded a direct reply on whether trade unions would be allowed in IT sector.

Hitting hard at the ''monopolistic'' attitude of the software gaint Microsoft, Mr Achuthanandan said the Government would provide special incentives to companies developing free and open source software. An International Research and Development Centre for Free Software and Free Knowledge would be set up here in collaboration with other countries, he added.

The Centre would focus on developing technologies relevant for the social and economic advancement in developing countries.

Totally opposing the idea of setting up Special Economic Zones(SEZ) for the IT sector, he said the Left had a clear cut policy in the matter.

When newspersons pointed out that the recently announced draft Industries policy of the State Government had stated that SEZ would be set up in the State, the Chief Minister said it had not come into his notice and he would examine the matter.

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