Report of the Regional Conference :
March 7, 2010, Chennai : Free Software Foundation, Tamil Nadu held its Regional Conference at IFMR (Institute of Financial Management & Research) in
Nungambakkam.
The conference has brought together various committed Free Software activists from different cross sections like Researchers, academicians, students, software professionals, Lawyers and School Teachers. The conference was aimed at integrating the above forces across the state towards the benefit of the society through Free Software.
The conference was inaugurated by Mr. Uma Shankar, IAS & Ex. Managing Director of ELCOT. Mr. Uma Shankar also spoke about the free software e-governence initiatives taken by Govt. of Tamil Nadu to produce the least cost - best product with the best efficiency and make it reach the common man and reduce the misuse of government Funds. Siddhartha Malempati has given the activity report
of the organization.
The conference set before itself the following as its objectives :
* To conduct Teacher's workshops at Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Thiruvallur, Thirunalveli & Virudinagar.
* To intervene in the social problems caused by the use of proprietary software.
* To start an aggressive campaign against Software Patents by conducting seminars in Engineering colleges all over the state.
* To continue doing the Free Software projects and initiate more projects in the future.
* To continue forming GLUGs across Tamil Nadu.
* To conduct general body meeting every month.
* To form group of Research oriented people.
* Studying the scope to form Village Knowledge Centers.
Awards were presented to Mr. Uma Shankar by Dean of IFMR Prof. G. Balasubramanium appreciating his contribution for introducing Free Software into
e-Governance. Institute of Financial Management & Reasearch and SSN School of Management & Computer Applications were presented awards for their exceptional support to Free Software Movement in the form of Infrastructure. Ramadoss M was presented with an award for his contribution to Tamil Computing.
