Government of Kerala

Practitioners and policy makers from India and some other South Asian countries met in Kochi, Kerala, India on 27-29 May, 2010 for the International Conference on 'Software in the Public Sector, with focus on Public Education', organised by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Government of Kerala. At the conclusion of these deliberations, the participants released the 'Kochi Declaration on Public Software', with the commitment to support the adoption of Public Software Principles in public agencies in India and other South Asian countries. The declaration recognises that the unique context of public software and its objectives of ensuring equity and social justice has implications for ensuring universal access to such software, as well as transparency and participation by the citizens in its design and use, and urges public institutions in these countries to adopt and promote Public Software. For more information, please see: The Hindu on May 26, The Hindu on May 29, The Indian Express, The Indian Express, Kerala IT News Portal, and Kaumudi Online.