The IT policies of the Government of India and of some state governments specifically recommend that free and open source software should be the preferred option for Governments, but this recommendation needs to be comprehensively implemented. We submit that the Education department must make a clear choice in favour of free software in its pioneering and ambitious program to adopt ICTs in schools. In fact this choice should be made while purchasing computers for all Government departments. Most hardware vendors promote proprietary software since they have business benefits from this and do not even offer a choice to the buyer to opt for free software. Government offices when procuring computers must specifically ask for and insist that the computers be capable of operating with 100% Free software.

This criteria is also required from the 'least cost' (L0) principle of procurement, since free software will save a significant part of the total purchase costs. In fact, the price of proprietary software (operating system and Office) can amount to about 20-40% of total cost of computers purchased, and this can be saved with free software options. However, the government should protect itself against computer hardware vendors who impose the use of non-free software even when that non-free software is available gratis(no cost). When Government takes a policy decision to use and promote Swatantra software, it will give a huge boost to the development of locally made software, local language software applications and learning software in our schools. Secondly the 'dependence' mindset on proprietary software can easily be broken through Government policy and program that promotes and popularises free software. Government should actively promote Samudaya software efforts and encourage use of Swatantra software within the public systems.