The very front page of the AICTE Web site is a glowing example of its problems

Summary: AICTE is promoting the training and advancement of products rather than teaching of methods; it gets a challenge from the population

LAST WEEK WE WROTE about India's AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) betraying the Indian people (their Web site is loaded with Adobeâ„¢ Flash/Trash all over the page). Narendra Sisodiya, a software freedom proponent from India, has just posted this response. He wrote:

I have prepared RTI to fight with AICTE for their support on vendor based education

It is an Adobeâ„¢ PDF unfortunately, so here it is as plain text (below). The main problem is that AICTE has become Microsoft's tool and a lock-in enabler. A response will hopefully be posted online. When companies deal with proprietary software vendors it's one thing; when taxpayers-funded departments do this they must be transparent and they must make the best decision on the taxpayers' behalf. Microsoft indoctrination is never the best decision, but it's an easy and irresponsible decision. There is someone to be held accountable. ⬆

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Form of application for seeking information

I.D. No._______. (For official use)

To , Dr. D. V. Derle Director & CPIO All India Council for Technical Education 7th Floor, Chanderlok Building Janpath, New Delhi- 110 001

1. Name of the Applicant

Narendra Sisodiya

Address Society for Knowledge Commons B-130, Lower Ground Floor, Shivalik, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110 017

2 Information sought:

a) Copy of the agreement signed on 15 October 2010 between All India Council for Technical Education and Microsoft to deliver free access to development software and design software for institutions, students and faculty in India under DreamSpark program Ref 1 - http://www.aicte-india.org/bfreedownloadsms.html

b) Copy of the agreement signed on 15 October 2010 between All India Council for Technical Education and Autodesk to deliver free access to development software and design software for institutions, students and faculty in India

Ref 2 - http://www.aicte-india.org/bfreedownloadsadesk.html

3 I state that the information sought does not fall within the restrictions contained in Section 8 and 9 of the Act and to the best of my knowledge it pertains to your office.

4 A fee of Rs.10/- has been deposited with the Competent Authority vide Indian Postal Order No. -- 88E 461219 -- drawn in favour of Member Secretary, AICTE

Place: New Delhi

Date: 21/10/2010

Signature of Applicant

E-mail address, narendra@narendrasisodiya.com Tel. No.(Office) 011-26693563 Mob : 9312166995 Postal Address B-130, Lower Ground Floor, Shivalik, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110 017