The root of this problem is very similar to the Section 377 case (refer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377_of_the_Indian_Penal_Code)
The laws and attitudes in place regarding this case are ancient and in
present circumstances, wrong. They do the country more harm than good. Going
by these laws, even something as beneficial as a GPS locator that can save
lives of lost travelers and disaster victims, can be deemed illegal. Hence,
if we use common sense, we can conclude that these laws are in fact illegal
and detrimental to India and its citizens. Maybe a more precise and updated
form would be correct, but presently it's in the wrong.
Just my opinion: falsified representation of areas as belonging to India
when they're not really in Indian control, can be interpreted as lying to
the people and grand treason. I would see it as equivalent to lying about
the country's GDP or poverty figures just to pretend being in the clear. If
we cannot accept one then why accept the other? If Indians were shown the
reality, we might just empower the coming generation to do something about
it and they might actually live to see these areas return back to Indian
control one day. By consistently being ignorant of it for decades, the
previous generation has lost that opportunity.
So I think the answer is easy and simple - it will be implementation that I
guess can be a little humbling. I think the best message that Indian
wikipedians can give right now is passive non-co-operation : remove all the
maps of our country from Wikipedia that come under question and make it
known to all that we will rather go map-less than lie to our fellow citizens
or to the world.
Cheers,
Nikhil Sheth
+91-966-583-1250
Pune, India
Teach For India <http://www.teachforindia.org/> Fellow, 2011-13
www.nikhilsheth.tk
Find me on: Twitter <http://twitter.com/nikhiljs> |
Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/nikjs>|
LinkedIn <http://in.linkedin.com/in/nikhiljs> | Google
<http://www.google.com/profiles/nikhil.js>|
RangDe<http://www.rangde.org/investor/nikhilsheth>
Join me on: Pune Documentary
Club<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=138497769525636>| Let's
Do it Pune <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lets-do-it-Pune/103857326346659> |
Toastmasters in
Pune<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toastmasters-in-Pune/148767611833746&…
Wikipedia
For Schools
project<http://education.wikia.com/wiki/Wikipedia_For_Schools_Offline_Ed…
On Tue, Feb 15, 2011 at 6:20 PM, Gautam John <gautam(a)prathambooks.org>wrote;wrote:
This isn't an easy question to answer:
There is the National Map Policy and the Guidelines:
http://www.surveyofindia.gov.in/tenders/National Map Policy.htm
Which states:
"Export of all maps/digital data in 1: 250K and larger scales through
any means is prohibited vide Ministry of Finance (Department of
Revenue) Notification No. 118-Cus./F.No.21/ 5/62-Cus. I/VIII dt. 4th
May 1963. Digital Topograhical data will be licensed to only Indian
individuals, organisations, firms or companies."
However, I do not know if this means maps/digital data built upon SoI
maps or *any* maps so created or what the definition of export it. My
reading, OSM/Google Map Creator et. al. might violate this where the
resolution is "1: 250K and larger". If I understand correctly, most
maps on Wikipedia about India should be okay. Or where the map is
created outside of India.
And this is problem number 1.
Then there is this:
"In addition, the SOI is currently preparing City Maps. These City
Maps will be on large scales in WGS-84 datum and in public domain. The
contents of such maps will be decided by the SOI in consultation with
Ministry of Defence."
No idea what they mean by public domain and this is problem 2.
http://www.surveyofindia.gov.in/instructions.html#LEGAL
Which is just rather difficult to parse. AFAIK, it is illegal to
*show* a map, in India, that does not conform to the SoI principles.
One option - show more than one map, which is purely a risk mitigation
exercise. Or, show one map to those coming from Indian IPs - I don't
even know if this is possible. Third, lobby for a change of rules
which is unlikely in the short term.
More when I learn something new.
Thank you.
Best,
Gautam
________
http://social.prathambooks.org/
_______________________________________________
Wikimediaindia-l mailing list
Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
