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Free Software movements' pioneer Richard Stallman's visit to Kerala last week took its toll on the software giant, Microsoft's empire in the communist-ruled state.

In a hard-hitting speech highlighting his opposition to monopolies while inaugurating a seminar on 'free software for IT development' during Stallman's visit, the state's chief minister VS Achuthanandan said his government was committed to the free software movement.

The visit served as a wake up call for the state government, which was itching to address the issue of market preferences, which were found heavily biased in favor of Microsoft, said industry sources. They said a survey conducted three years back had revealed that teachers lacked skills in Linux, despite the operating platform being a part of the school curriculum.

The state government has indicated at a three-year plan to tackle what it says is the monopoly power of Bill Gates' giant US software group by promoting the rapid adoption of open source operating system in state-funded schools and colleges.

"Our government is committed to the free software movement." -VS Achuthanandan, chief minister, Kerala

Linking the principle of the free software movement with the socialist outlook, Achuthanandan said, the society had grown by using, learning, distributing and improving the information generated by mankind over centuries and therefore the stand of the movement that information, with all the above four freedoms, should be available to society, is in fact a socialist outlook.

The state's education minister MA Baby too said, “We have not banned Microsoft but we are against monopolies in any field and will vigorously encourage free software.”

The Left Democratic Front government's move, sources said, is targeted at implementing a decision taken by the previous government of United Democratic Front in 2004 to push open source systems.

Refraining from using strong words for Microsoft's monopoly, Kerala IT secretary, PG Tenzing said, “opinions will take concrete shape only when the IT policy comes out, expected within two months time. It will throw substantial light on the open source platform as well.”

Initially, schools were given the option to choose whether teachers were to be trained in Linux systems or Microsoft. However, the option has now been narrowed down to a clear migration. While class VIII students in Kerala have already shifted to Linux, the state hopes to migrate class XI students to the Linux platform by 2007. Class X students are expected to follow suit and move on to the new platform by 2008.

Sources watching the switch to open source code software closely, said Microsoft could possibly try and negotiate terms with the state government to offer free software and operating platform to schools as Kerala has a huge market potential in the field of education.

Interestingly, the government's campaign against Microsoft comes within less than a fortnight after its ban on the sale and bottling of the two symbolic US business icons-soft drink majors Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

However, Microsoft refuses to accept the argument. Microsoft's country head, Public Sector, Rohit Kumar said, “Under the School Agreement program, Microsoft has created a very competitive pricing/value model keeping in mind the financial constraints that beleaguer most educational institutions. We believe that our offerings are among the most competitive in the market today and our Windows XP Pro is in fact available to educational institutions at an estimated retail price of $25-$30 per desktop.”

Microsoft played on the plank of ubiquity and ease of use of the Windows platform to make its point. “We've found that customers and governments, who research and thoughtfully select Microsoft solutions, make that choice based on value, support, ease of use and the overall benefit for their IT ecosystem,” said Kumar.

While a formal decision is yet to be taken by the Kerala government on the issue, the chief minister pointed to a probable step pending in the direction.

Team DQ
maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in

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