>GreenC bot at 20:09, 21 April 2021

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Free Software Foundation Tamil Nadu
|image =FSFTN_Logo.svg
|image_border =
|size = 
|alt = 
|caption =
|map = 
|msize = 
|malt = 
|mcaption = 
|abbreviation = FSFTN
|motto =Building Social Movement around Free Software & Knowledge Freedom
|formation = 2008
|extinction = 
|type = Not-for-profit organisation
|status = 
|purpose = To spread [[free software]] philosophy among the masses and help in bridging the [[digital divide]] using [[free software]] and also by mobilising the under privileged.
|headquarters =Okkiyampet, Chennai
|location = [[Chennai]]
|coords = 
|region_served = Tamil Nadu, India
|membership =
|language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[English language|English]]
|main_organ = Executive Committee
|parent_organization =
|affiliations = [[Free Software Movement of India]]
|num_staff =
|num_volunteers =
|budget =
|website = {{URL|http://www.fsftn.org}}
|remarks =
}}

'''Free Software Foundation Tamil Nadu''' (or '''FSFTN''' in short) is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 2008<ref name="fsftn-about"/> as a part of [[Free Software Movement of India]] (FSMI).<ref name="hindu2">{{cite news |title=National Free Software coalition formed | author=Deepa Kurup |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/article261275.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=22 March 2010 |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref> This organisation is a social movement that works towards enlightening the masses with the essence of [[free software]] and to liberate knowledge.<ref name="fsftn-about" /> FSFTN organises different workshops and seminars<ref name="hindu0">{{cite news |title=Regional convention on free software |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-educationplus/article873113.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=8 November 2010 |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="srm">{{cite web |url=http://www.srmeaswari.ac.in/chapter_CSI.html |title=Chapter Activities |publisher=Easwari Engineering College |access-date=27 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111072628/http://www.srmeaswari.ac.in/chapter_CSI.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="mozilla0">{{cite web |url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/index.php?title=Indiameetup2012/Localization_Sprints_Chennai |title=Indiameetup2012/Localization Sprints |date=19 February 2012 |publisher=Mozilla.org |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref> in [[Tamil Nadu]] among the youth to spread the idea of knowledge liberation.

Presently FSFTN is active in campuses like [[Indian Institute of Technology Madras]], [[Anna University]], and [[Madras Institute of Technology]] in and around [[Chennai]].<ref name="toi0">{{cite news |title=Free software movement spreads in universities |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-10/chennai/33736274_1_free-software-movement-richard-stallman-iit-madras |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101101202/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-10/chennai/33736274_1_free-software-movement-richard-stallman-iit-madras |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2012 |author=Arun Janardhanan |date=12 September 2012 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=20 September 2012}}</ref>

==Name==
Free Software Foundation Tamil Nadu is the body working as a part of [[Free Software Movement of India]] and not the [[Free Software Foundation of India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Board statement on recent issues|url=http://fsf.org.in/board-statement-on-recent-issues-1|website=fsf.org.in|publisher=FSF India|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> It is often believed that FSFTN is the official chapter of [[Free Software Foundation]] or [[Free Software Foundation of India]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Rankin|first=Dave|title=Mozilla Firefox in Tamil Now Available|url=http://opensource.about.com/b/2013/08/21/mozilla-firefox-in-tamil-now-available.htm|access-date=25 August 2013|newspaper=About.com Open Source|date=21 August 2013}}</ref> Recent [[disclaimer]] of Free Software Foundation Tamil Nadu makes clear that FSFTN is a part of [[Free Software Movement of India]] and they are not associated with either [[Free Software Foundation]] or [[Free Software Foundation of India]] anyway other than the [[ideology]].<ref name="fsftn-about">{{cite web | url=http://fsftn.org/about/ | title=About | publisher=FSFTN | access-date=30 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626064618/http://fsftn.org/about/ | archive-date=26 June 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Objectives==
As per the FSFTN site the main objectives of the organisation are as follows:<ref name="fsftn-about" />
* To take forward free software and its [[ideology|ideological]] implications to all corners of our country 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 stream of [[science]]s 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 mobilising 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.

== GNU/Linux Users Group (GLUG) ==
The GNU/Linux Users Group (GLUG) are the essential place for Knowledge sharing activities for Colleges and Regions co-ordinated by FSFTN. FSFTN has both Regional and College GLUGs. The GLUGs operate at various levels and is guided by the '''Core Committee Members''' of FSFTN. The functionalities and structure of GLUG are as follows,

* Each GLUG will have a Representative who will co-ordinate the GLUG and take care of the activities of the GLUG
* The College GLUG consists of only the College Students and a '''Staff Representative'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4-uDZXhxnuzeUVXX3FtSmIyZDA/view|title=FSFTN GLUG Manifesto|work=Google Docs|access-date=2018-05-13}}</ref>
* The College GLUG organises activities and events inside the College and will aim to bring people involving them in Community Contributions, Projects, etc.
* The Regional GLUG consists of members from the locality and gets involved in '''Knowledge Sharing''' sessions and bring in new people from various colleges in and around the region
* GLUGs are the main point of contact for [[Free and open-source software|FOSS]] related activities and events in the locality
* Each College and Regional will plan for [[Software Freedom Day]] (SFD), [[Education Freedom Day]] (EFD) and many such activities in a year.
* GLUG members will represent their GLUG in the Summer Camp organised by FSFTN every year.

==Activism==
The Free Software Foundation Tamil Nadu was in the forefront of the protests against the inclusion of [[proprietary software]] in the free laptop scheme by the Government of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="toi0"/><ref name="hindu1">{{cite news |title=ELCOT determines technical requirements for free laptops |url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/26/stories/2011062662590400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630172819/http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/26/stories/2011062662590400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2011 |author=Vasudha Venugopal |date=26 June 2011 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="hindu4">{{cite news |title=It's no 'free laptop' as long as it has proprietary software |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2864253.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |author=Vasudha Venugopal |date=6 February 2012 |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="hindu5">{{cite news |title=Free laptops not to have open source software |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2419753.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |author=Vasudha Venugopal |date=3 September 2011 |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="linuxcandy">{{cite web |title=Minister for IT, Tamil Nadu, clarifies free laptops to be loaded with Linux |url=http://www.linuxcandy.com/2011/09/minister-for-it-tamil-nadu-clarifies.html |publisher=Linux Candy |date=4 September 2011 |access-date=27 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612151056/http://linuxcandy.com/2011/09/minister-for-it-tamil-nadu-clarifies.html |archive-date=12 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="hindu6">{{cite news |title=Anonymous India gears up for its first street protests across the country |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3506032.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |author=Karthik Subramanian |date=9 June 2012 |access-date=12 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="hindu7">{{cite news |title=Online activists hit the streets |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3509777.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |author=Karthik Subramanian |date=9 June 2012 |access-date=12 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="deccan0">{{cite news |title=People join hands for Net freedom |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/people-join-hands-net-freedom-210 |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |date=9 June 2012 |access-date=10 June 2012}}</ref>

On 6 February 2012, FSFTN organised a lecture on "Freedom, Free Software and Education" by the founder of [[Free Software Foundation]] - [[Richard Matthew Stallman]] at IIT Madras in [[Chennai]].<ref name="toi0"/><ref name="hindu4" /><ref name="hindu3">{{cite news |title=Free software from legal control |url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/26/stories/2011062662590400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630172819/http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/26/stories/2011062662590400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2011 |date=7 February 2012 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="frontline0">{{cite news |title=Social inertia the main obstacle |url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20120309290411100.htm |newspaper=Frontline |author=Prasanth Radhakrishnan |date= February–March 2012 |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref>

On 19 February 2012, a [[Mozilla]] [[Language localisation|localisation]] seminar was organised by the Free Software Foundation, Tamil Nadu at [[IIT Madras]].<ref name="mozilla0" />

On 9 June 2012, FSFTN conducted a [[protest]] against Intermediaries Guidelines Rules and spread awareness about the importance of a free Internet through posters, distribution of pamphlets and speeches by some of the volunteers at [[Besant Nagar]] [[Beach]], [[Chennai]].<ref name="hindu6" /><ref name="hindu7" /><ref name="deccan0"/>

On June 2013, FSFTN conducted 5 days workshop in collaboration with ILUGC at IIT-Madras on various technologies and discussed about social issues like "Internet Democracy","Gender Biasing" etc.{{fact|date=August 2020}}

On 23 April 2015, as part of Free Software Movement of India's call for campaign in support of NetNeutrality, FSFTN organised a walkathon in Besant Nagar Beach<ref>{{cite news|title=Young Chennaiites join campaign to protect net neutrality|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150424/nation-current-affairs/article/young-chennaiites-join-campaign-protect-net-neutrality|access-date=24 April 2015|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=23 April 2015|location=Chennai}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Official website|http://www.fsftn.org/}}

[[Category:2008 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil computing]]
[[Category:Free Software Foundation]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2008]]
[[Category:Information technology organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Free and open-source software organizations]]
[[Category:Software industry in India]]

Free Software Foundation Tamil Nadu - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 20:09, 21 April 2021