South India Regional Workshop on "Software Principles for the Public Sector, with focus on Public Education"

Policy makers from the four South Indian States (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu) and Pondicherry met in Bangalore on 1 and 2 Feb for a “South India Regional Workshop on 'Software Principles for the Public Sector, with Focus on Public Education” along with members from academia and civil society. This workshop was co-organized by UNESCO, e-Governance Department, Department of Public Instruction and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (Government of Karnataka), Karnataka Jnana Aayoga (Karnataka Knowledge Commission) and IT for Change (ITfC).

Click here to read the Workshop Report

Click here to read the Guiding Principles for Public Software

Click here to read the session plan and the detailed presentations / synopses of the resource persons of the workshop

Click on the links to read
1. The concept note
2. The Session Plan
3. Case Studies on Public Software
4. Note for the Resource People
5. Press release
6. Policy Brief
7. The Participants List

ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರದ ದಾಸ್ತಾವೇಜುಗಳನ್ನು ಓದಲು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ.

As software becomes important for almost all organisational processes, its importance to governments is no less. In fact digital tools and systems, if employed appropriately, can be instruments of major governance reform in India. In this context it is important to discuss what are the specific characteristics and imperatives of software for the public sector. Are the corresponding requirement of kinds of software, and its processes of design, development, procurement, implementation, enhancement / customization, audit etc same as in the case of private sector? What are the unique issues vis-a-vis public sector software?

The workshop act as an opportunity to conceptualize principles for 'software for the public sector' and discuss the challenges and posssibilities in adopting software for the public sector on a large scale for maximum societal benefit. Day 1 focused on public education. Day 2 attempted at evolving overall public sector software principles.

The workshop aimed at contributing to a better understanding of how the specific contexts of the public sector, including its principles of universal access, participation, sharing / strengthening commons, transparency, social justice and equity inform the design of software for the public sector. This event also promotedsharing of experiences and lessons in “public sector software” development and implementation programs in southern states of India .

Two documents will be created from discussions: 'Guiding principles for public sector software' and 'Experiences and learnings as well as challenges from public software projects'. These documents will feed into a subsequent international workshop on a similar theme being organized by Government of Kerala, UNESCO, Solution Exchange, and IT for Change in April 2010.