Section 12.2. Government

12.2. Government

OSS is providing the first steps toward an information society in India and thereby helping to close the digital divide. Examples include the Open Source Simputer project, CoIL-NET & TDIL localization projects, e-governance projects, and others.

Maharashtra and Kerala state land record systems have separately demonstrated the cost effectiveness of applying OSS, including database technologies, to what traditionally has been a slow and manual process.

Government-sponsored software technology parks of India (STPIs) are often used by companies to demonstrate their solutions to large government customers. One example is a 2003 MoU between IBM and the state of Karnataka to build an OSS center of excellence in the government-built Hubli software technology park. IBM has also set up a similar Linux Center of Competency in Bangalore, which provides development and testing services for Linux applications. Other OSS resource centers have been built or are being planned.

Two 2004 MoUs between IBM and the state of Uttaranchal have initiated a statewide university education program and an eGovernance program for an OSS-based framework addressing both legacy and new applications. These applications cover municipal services for record keeping, taxation, and social and health programs.

Also, IBM signed an MoU with the union territory of Chandigarh to set up an eGovernance Solutions Center for Linux for the local government. The center will help Chandigarh develop eGovernment applications using open standards and IBM's open source-based development framework.

Oracle's eGovernance Center of Excellence, set up in partnership with HP in the state of Haryana, helps government agencies develop better ICT policies and deploy improved ICT systems using OSS and Linux.