Effect of Replacing Proprietary Software with FOSS (Free/Open Source Software) in Lokmitra (Friend of People) Kenderas of Himachal Pradesh State: A Case Study

Objective: Cost minimization on software so that it may be financially viable to provide the various services to all the people of India. Method: An Analytical study was conducted on costs incurred on proprietary software and their corresponding FOSS i.e. free and open source software. Findings: Most part of finance is spent on proprietary software that can be saved by replacing them with the alternative FOSS that too being developed and promoted by DIETY i.e. Department of Electronics and Information Technology and various organizations, societies and institutions like NIELIT i.e National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, NRCFOSS i.e. National Resource Centre for FOSS and CDAC i.e. Centre for development of Advance Computing and NIC i.e. National Informatics Centre. Applications/Improvements: The huge amount of finances incurred on proprietary software can easily be saved by replacing these software by their corresponding FOSS i.e. free and open source software.