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[India] Old PCs can give schools new life
Old PCs can give schools new life
SUBHRO NIYOGI
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2002 2:22:46 AM ]
KOLKATA: All government-run schools in West Bengal can get free
computers if corporates in the state donate their obsolete machines.
A software firm has offered to use Linux operating system to bring
the dead machines back to life for use in schools. This will save the
state government’s depleted coffers of several crores of rupees.
An Indo-US joint venture firm is in talks with West Bengal government
through nodal agency Webel to offer zerocost installation of
computers and train teachers in government schools.
The programme has already been implemented at 600 schools in Goa. “We
tied up with an NGO to import obsolete 386 and 486 series PCs. Since,
they were treated as junk, we got them for free. Upgraded with Linux,
they are now in use at schools,” said Shankar Iyer, training manager
of Red Hat India which initiated the programme.
Following the Goa success story, NGOs and governments in Andhra
Pradesh and Kerala have evinced interest. Gujarat was also on the
firm’s radar but has been temporarily removed following the
disturbances.
In West Bengal, the company hopes this will happen as early as next
month. Iyer is now trying to tie up with NGOs in Kolkata to drum up
support for the cause.
The hurdle comes from unexpected quarters — In India, more so in
Kolkata, old PCs too have value. “We hope large corporates will forgo
the monetary benefit and donate them,” he said.
The company has tied up with Indian Institute of Rural Automation, an
educational society for spreading computer education and total IT
solutions in rural and urban areas.
This will help the company push Linux training to enterprises in
rural and urban areas.
With the focus on government and rural sector for Linux adoption, the
company is pushing its “cheaper and better” USP. Linux costs a fourth
that of other operating systems since it does not follow the
proprietory approach. Since there is no concept of piracy, it is
cheaper to implement.
“We are in talks with West Bengal, Uttaranchal, Kerala and Madhya
Pradesh governments for
implementing it in their e-governance initiatives,” he added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=13210204&sTy
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