Public Sector Software, Participatory Communications and Social Change

Pradip, Ninan Thomas

doi:10.2478/nor-2013-0027

Abstract

This article explores the role played by public sector software (PSS) in social change in India. Viewing public sector software as a public good, it explores its potential as well as the challenges that it faces in a context in which proprietoral software is an established and dominant force. Using both theory and examples, it argues that state investment in this public good makes infinite sense in the context of e-governance and commitments to access and affordable use of information resources for all its citizens. Based on the principles of Free Open Source Software (FOSS), PSS offers not only possibilities of access but also adaptation and use by a variety of ‘recursive publics’. Using the example of PSS in the Southern Indian state of Kerala, it offers insights into the practical benefits of software deployed for the common good.

References

Allen, A. (2009) “Open software ‘best for taxpayer’” (8), Supply Management, 14, 5.
Search in Google Scholar
Batty, M., Crooks et al (2010) “Data mash-ups and the future of mapping” (1-45), JISC Technology & Stand ards Watch, September. Available at: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/techwatch/jisctsw_10_01.pdf Accessed on September 29, 2010.
Search in Google Scholar
Beck, U. (1997) “Global Risk Politics” (18-33) The Political Quarterly, 68, B.10.1111/1467-923X.00113
Search in Google Scholar
Beck, U. (1999) “Beyond the nation state” (25-27) The New Statesman, December 6.
Search in Google Scholar
Bountouri, L., Papatheodorou, C., Soulikias, V., & Stratis, M. (2009) “Metadata interoperability in public sector information” (204-231), Journal of Information Science, 35, 2.10.1177/0165551508098601
Search in Google Scholar
Chatfield, T. & Crabtree, J. (2010) “Mash the State” (42-46) Prospect Magazine, 167, February.
Search in Google Scholar
Chatterjee, P. (2004) The Politics of the Governed: Reflections on Popular Politics in Most of the World. NY: Columbia University Press.
Search in Google Scholar
Cottle, S. (1998) “Ulrich Beck, ‘Risk Society’ and the Media: A Catastrophic View?” (5-32), European Journalof Communication, 13, 5.10.1177/0267323198013001001
Search in Google Scholar
Ensuring adoption of progressive national e-governance standards policy, IT for Change. Available at: http:// www.itforchange.net/component/content/article/220-open-standards-campaign.html Accessed on September 28, 2010.
Search in Google Scholar
Directive 2003/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the re-use of public sector information. Available at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L: 2003:345:0090:0096:EN:PDF. Accessed on April 12, 2011.
Search in Google Scholar
Draft National Policy on Open Standards for e-Governance (2009). Available at: http://fosscomm.in/OpenStandards?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=Policy_On_Open_Standards_V2.pdf. Accessed on September 28, 2010.
Search in Google Scholar
Federspiel, S.B. & Brincker, B. (2010) “Software as Risk: Introduction of Open Standards in the Danish Public” (38-47), The Information Society, 26, 1.10.1080/01972240903423345
Search in Google Scholar
Ghosh, R.A., Glott, R., Schmitz, P-E., & Boujraf, A. (2008) OSOR Guidelines Public procurement and Open Source Software (1-117), IDABC Dissemination of Good practice in Using Open Source Software, Unisys Belgium, UNU-MERIT.
Search in Google Scholar
Heeks, R. (1998) “Information Age reform of the Public Sector: the Potential and Problems of IT for India” (1-21), Information Systems for Public Sector Management, Working Paper Series No. 6. October, Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester. Available at: http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/NISPAcee/UNPAN015479.pdf. Accessed on September 28, 2010.
Search in Google Scholar
Holmstrom, J., & Robey, D. (2005) “Inscribing organisational change with information technology” (265-187) in Czarniawska, B. & Hernes, T. (eds.) Actor-Network Theory and Organising. Malmö: Liber & Copenhagen Business School Press.
Search in Google Scholar
Indian Labour Market Report (2008) ADECCO Institute, Tata Institute of Sciences. Available at: http://www.esocialsciences.com/data/articles/Document11452009240.3434107.pdf Accessed on September 29, 2010.
Search in Google Scholar
Information Technology Policy of Assam (2009), The Assam Gazette, 4th August. Available at: http://assamgovt.nic.in/pdf/ITPOLICY-2009-Final-Gazette-Style.pdf Accessed on September 28, 2010.
Search in Google Scholar
Insight. Available at: http://insight.kerala.gov.in/about/ Accessed on May 11th, 2011.
Search in Google Scholar
Kanungo, V. (2010) Government of India to invest in Rs. 20,000 crores on e-Governance by 2014, e-GovWorld 2010, July 19. Available at: http://67.223.235.55:8081/eGovWorld/newsupdate/opportunities-forindian-itcompanies-to-beat-global-demand-in-it-services-as-government-of-india-decides-to-investrs-20-000-crore-on-e-governance-projects-1 Accessed on September 27, 2010
Search in Google Scholar
Kelty, C.M. (2005) “Geeks, Social imaginaries and Recursive Publics” (185-214), Cultural Anthropology, 20, 2.10.1525/can.2005.20.2.185
Search in Google Scholar
Kelty, C.M. (2008) Two Bits: The Cultural Significance of Free Software. Durham & London: Duke University Press.10.2307/j.ctv1198vx9
Search in Google Scholar
Krishnan, K. (No date) “Localisation and language technology standards” (1-25), ppt., National Informatics Centre (NIC). Available at: http://www.panl10n.net/Presentations/Bhutan/Consultation/NIC%20India.ppt.pdf Accessed on September 30, 2010
Search in Google Scholar
Matoria, R. K., Upadhyay, P. K., & Moni, M. (2007) “Automation and networking of public libraries in India using the e-Granthalaya software from the National Informatics Centre” (47-58), Electronic Library and Information Systems, 41, 110.1108/00330330710724881
Search in Google Scholar
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan. RTI pioneers. Available at: http://www.mkssindia.org/ Accessed on October 25, 2011
Search in Google Scholar
Naipaul, V. S.(1998), India: A Million Mutinies Now, Vintage, NY
Search in Google Scholar
Public Sector Software Principles. Available at: http://flossinclude.org/south-india-regional-workshop-onsoftware-principles-for-the-public-sector-with-focus-on-public-education-on-1st-and-2nd-february-2010-in-bangalore Accessed on October 25, 2011
Search in Google Scholar
Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment. Available at: http://www.space-kerala.org/node/10 Accessed on May 11th, 2011.
Search in Google Scholar
Software Principles for the Public Sector with focus on Public Education, February 1-2, 2010, Bangalore, Workshop Report.
Search in Google Scholar
South India regional Workshop on ‘Software Principles for the Public Sector, with Focus on Public Education’ Case Studies - Public Software (2010), February.
Search in Google Scholar
Thomas, P. N. (2010) Political Economy of Communications in India: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. New Delhi: Sage.10.4135/9788132106067
Search in Google Scholar
Thomas, P. N. (2011) Negotiating Communication Rights: Case Studies from India. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: Sage.10.4135/9781446270325
Search in Google Scholar
What is Public Software, Public Software Centre. Available at: http://public-software-centre.org/node/31 Accessed on September 28, 2010.
Search in Google Scholar

Public Sector Software, Participatory Communications and Social Change

Abstract

Paradigm

My account