Hyderabad, Mar 3 (UNI) CPI (M) Politbureau Member and MP Sitaram Yechuri today said 'breaking monopoly on software would have direct impact on poor as they would have access to knowledge and information.' Speaking at a national convention on free software organised jointly by 'Free Software Movement' and University of Hyderabad here, Mr Yechuri said 'releasing the software from the hands of monopolistic companies is of direct consequence to daily life of the poor in the country.' Suggesting the Centre and the state governments shift towards using free software in e-governance and introduce computer education with free software to curb software monopoly in future in schools, he said it was also very important to utilise it for the security of country.

Pointing out that 'globalisation' had created avenues for profit generation besides monopolisation of knowledge, the CPI (M) leader said 'access to knowledge is important and it is an ultimate quest for human liberation.' West Bengal IT Minister Debesh Das said the country would get strategic, economical and social benefits once the free software concept was adopted. It would pave the way to transform the country and make it 'self-reliant' in software, he added.

UNI