4.6 KiB
| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swecha | 1/2 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swecha | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T10:32:08.083570+00:00 | kb-cron |
Swecha is a non-profit organization formerly called Free Software Foundation Andhra Pradesh (FSF-AP). It is a Telugu operating system released in the year 2005, and is a part of Free Software Movement of India (FSMI). The organization is a social movement working towards educating the masses with the essence of Free Software and to provide knowledge to the commoners. Swecha organizes workshops and seminars in the Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Presently Swecha is active GLUG (GNU/Linux User Group) in many engineering colleges like International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, St. Martin's Engineering College, Sridevi Women's Engineering College, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology, SCIENT Institute of Technology, CMR Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, Jyothishmathi College of Engineering and Technology, MVGR College of Engineering, K L University and Ace Engineering College.
== Objectives == The main objectives of the organization are as follows:
To take forward free software and its ideological implications to all corners of India from the developed domains to the underprivileged. To create awareness among computer users in the use of free software. To work towards usage of free software in all streams of sciences and research. To take forward implementation and usage of free software in school education, academics and higher education. To work towards e-literacy and bridging digital divide based on free software and mobilizing the underprivileged. To work among developers on solutions catering to societal & national requirements. To work towards a policy change favoring free software in all walks of life.
== Activities == Swecha hosted a National Convention for Academics and Research which was attended by researchers and academicians from different parts of the country. Former President of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam while inaugurating the conference and declaring it open has asked everyone to Embrace Free Software and the Philosophy associated with it. Technology should also be within the reach of everybody. At a time when technology has become all pervasive and people are increasingly dependent on it, transparency in software code is the need of the hour. "One needs to know what is going on in your mobile phone or computer," said D. Bhuvan Krishna, co-convener of Swecha project which code is available for anyone and everyone to modify fills this gap, felt speakers at an event organised to spread the word of Free and open-source software(FOSS) and celebrate the launch of latest web browser from the Mozilla Foundation's stable, Mozilla Firefox 3.5. Swecha, has organised a 15-day workshop in Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology(CBIT) for budding software engineers from across the country. The idea is to provide students with an opportunity on the importance of students contributing towards the development of free software as it would not only allow students to exercise their creative faculties but also will help society to free itself from the clutches of proprietary software. Swecha, an organisation floated to promote free software movement in India, has organised a one-day workshop on free software in the Department of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Andhra University College of Engineering, the students who attended the workshop along with the faculty members joined to formally launch the GNU/Linux User Group(GLUG). In order to build a mass movement for free software, Swecha organizes Freedom Fest to promoting use of free software, About 1,500 students from 80 colleges from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh converged on the campus to voice their concerns against proprietary software and share their passion for free software. Swecha hosted A 2 Days International Technical Symposium on Free Internet (DFI) & Free Software in Hyderabad, Gachibowli in the month of 24 January 2014. More than 4700 participants attended including the 20+ delegates from ThoughtWorks & Social Activist across the world. Swecha organises summer camps every year in which large number of students participate. The camps focus on training students on Free Software Technology and the culture of sharing and collaborative development of free software. In the 2014 itself 15 days camps were conducted for 2000+ students. It is here participants collaboratively engage in the conduct of the Summer Camps.