Chief Minister inaugurated the free software programme of Kerala State Electricity Board “Oruma” at Co-Bank Towers, Thiruvananthapuram on 10th March 2008. It came as the culmination of the vision to liberate Government organizations like K.S.E.B from the clutches of Digital Rights Management (DRM) - enabled products. This is also a turning point at application level in the information technology sector in the State. An attempt at computerization of K.S.E.B made by the U.D.F. Government using Microsoft had ended in total confusion. The audit of KSEB accounts revealed that the Board incurred a loss of Rs. 70 crores due to the confusion and anomalies in the bills.
The LDF Government has had a change of perception and scrapped the Microsoft programme and decided that the Board might very well use a programme to be developed by its own personnel using free software.
Inaugural Function of ORUMA (Click on the photo to enlarge)
In the first stage a Data Entry Software was developed by Board employees in three months and used it in Sreevaraham electrical section in April 2007. Subsequently this Data Entry programme under Free Software is being extended to all sections use of Data Entry programme is needed for further computerization. 15 employees of KSEB were given training in free software. The programme developed by this group was first experimented successfully in the Kanyakulangara electrical section in August 2007. Finding the programme a success, the Board adopted it in a few more electrical sections. Now arrangements are being made to install ‘Oruma’ programme in 250 electrical sections in the State. By December,2008 all electrical sections in the State will function with Oruma Software Programme.
Chief Minister presents momento to ORUMA Team (Click on the photo to enlarge)
Making of ORUMA- Video
‘Oruma’, as this platform of billing system is called, was developed by the KSEB with its own expertise. Trials in actual operational environment have shown it quite superior to the platform on proprietary software 'JYOTHI' developed by the KSEB in 2003 with hired expertise.
The KSEB will also save Rs.9.5 crore on licence fee and software upgrading because of the shift to free software.
ORUMA Video - Manorama News
The KSEB Officers’ Association and a group of independent software experts had come out against the “hidden costs” and also the “errors” in the platform on proprietary software at the time of its pilot launch in 2003. The study report of KSEB Officers' Association in this regard is available for free download in the Download section.
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The Computerization Unit of Management Information System in KSEB deserves real appreciation for their bold & challenging initiative for launching of 'ORUMA' software for LT Billing Computerization.
The following urgent steps are suggested for improvement of functioning of Distribution Sector of KSEB:-
(1) All functions in the KSEB should be computerized and the existing bureaucratic hurdles are to be removed immediately.
(2) All employees including officers and staff should support the organizational changes initiated by the KSEB management for making it more consumer friendly and to transform it to a "Mini Ratna' Company.
(3) Basic amenities are to be provided at all Section Offices urgently. At least a waiting shed with seating and drinking water facility are to be provided immediately.
(4) All employees in the Distribution Sector are to be trained aggressively for their attitudinal change and model behavior pattern with the consumers.
(5) Participation of all major trade unions and officers organizations be ensured for the success of the above.
By simply transforming the management style of SEBs no magical effect can happen.The basic issues of failure of SEBs are not addressed.The SEBs are mismanaged deliberately to help private sector to enter ,because electricity is a commodity, can be sold out like hot cakes.I n the case of electricity, the seller need not go to the purchaser,in fact purchasers are rushing to sellers ,a peculiar phenomenon no where we can see.So the existing SEBs if tuned up properly,can very well meet the chellenges.Privatisation/corporitisation not at all necessary.
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