The government in India’s southern state of Kerala is campaigning to eliminate Microsoft products from use in public institutions.

As part of a drive against “monopolistic” organizations, schools and public offices across the state are being encouraged to install free software systems instead of purchasing Microsoft’s Windows programs.

“It is well-known that Microsoft wants to have a monopoly in the field of computer technology. Naturally, being a democratic and progressive government, we want to encourage the spread of free software,” M. A. Baby, the state’s education minister, said by telephone.

Microsoft was not being banned, he said, but the government was actively encouraging Kerala’s 12,500 schools to switch to the Linux operating system, available around the world free of charge.

With its population of 32 million, Kerala is one of India’s smaller states, but Microsoft said it represented an important market. The state has a literacy rate of more than 90 percent, much higher than the national average of about 65 percent, and is known to be innovative in its promotion of computer literacy.

About 30,000 computers are already in use in schools across the state, and the Education Ministry said about 600,000 students opted to take free software training classes this year.

New York Times reported this with obvious strong bias against the Keralian government and tried to paint it as an attack on multi-national corporations. I expect better unbiased reporting from NYT.

I don't think it is a bad move at all. Linux is free and what's wrong with a government trying to save cost by advocating free software, if it serves their needs?
If I were in their advisory committee, I would probably have recommended the same. For a poor country like India it is always a good idea to be able to save millions on unnecessary license fees, especially from companies which insist on draconian measures of compliance which hinges on lack of trust on their users.