Development as Freedom - Free software partner in struggle for development

The Adivasi´s of the Gudalur valley are among the few indigenous communities left in southern India. Like other indigenous people, they share cultural practices that prioritise, develop and manage common property. The gradual destruction and privatisation of common property especially forests left the Adivasi communities on the brink of survival. The encroachment of forests by prospectors for gold, tea estates and finally through their legal exclusion of common property by legislation like the Wildlife Act and the Forest Act.

Given the experience of the Adivasi, we find it crucial to defend, develop and support the free software movement and the technological commons. From an initial hesitant first experiment in free software, the Gudalur organisations have now made a committment to use free software at the earliest possible date. We also find it important to encourage others to shift to free software as it facilitates job creation at local levels, and greater control over economies by local communities.