[OSGeo-Discuss] Board Election: Ravi Kumar

[Ravi]

Dear All,
as a field geologist I was enticed to computer aided drawing and then GIS more than two decades ago.
Have taught more than a hundred field geologists FOSS GIS supported by exercises and notes prepared.
Held the first ever FOSS GIS conference in the Geological Survey of India in 2005. Have been evangelising
FOSS GIS around India. 

India needs sustainable GIS and only FOSS GIS can provide it. The solutions that FOSS GIS can offer are innumerable
and impact more profound than ever possible in the developed world. Right from eradicating corruption by providing
transparency in administration to empowering people with information. In short, it can do wonders to society.

OSGeo India took up a project for a southern city, Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh with the help
of a Member of The Indian Parliament of the same city. The first phase was data collection and preparation of base GIS.
OSGeo India believes in not just taking the (thirsty) horse to the pond but make it drink. In a second phase of the project
focus will be on web-enabling various themes such that it will act as a bridge between citigens and Governament (C2G), cutting
down a lot of red-tape. 

Evangelising FOSS GIS in India is literally as per, Gandhi's quote
'First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win'.

Ravi Kumar






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