Draft Recommendation #1: Wikimedia India chapter needed

Draft Recommendation #1: Wikimedia India chapter needed

Edited by another user.
Last edit: 15:08, 5 February 2010

Given the discussions held so far, this would seem to be a no-brainer. There have been discussions to set up an India chapter as far back as 2004. Subsequent visits by Jimmy, and particularly a recent 2008 visit by Jimmy and Sue, significantly helped this effort get off the ground. The partnership of an Indian organisation that is interested in internet culture (Centre for Internet and Society: www.cis-india.org) catalysed the efforts of a group of people to undertake the process of chapter formation.

The reasons why India needs a chapter are self evident. Currently, a chapter is the only 'official' affiliation available to Wikipedians in any given geography. A chapter does not presume that it owns or coordinates all Wikimedia-related activity in a geography; rather, it is a means by which certain kinds of activity (e.g. fundraising, events) can be coordinated. The benefits are several: (a) local Indian donors who want to support Wikimedia might find it easier to give to an organisation registered in India, (b) official affiliation can help Wikipedians in India provide reasonable solutions/answers to programmes in the country that seek to augment/ support the work of Wikipedia and sister projects (c) it provides a platform by which people who would like to run activities (such as, say, a Wikipedia Academy) the means by which they can reach out to people in their area, and even be supported for costs.

The status of the Indian chapter that is currently under development is this: After about seven months of working with the Chapters Committee of the Wikimedia Foundation, as well as a Bangalore-based accountant who is working on the appropriate mode of registration of the entity, the team that is putting together a chapter is almost done with it's work. A formal announcement will be made shortly; the ensuing chapter will at first consist of a legal entity alone, but we hope will soon be expanded by the participation of every interested Wikipedian in India, along with their thoughts, ideas and actions. - Achal Prabhala

122.172.53.113:45, 5 February 2010

Hi Achal, since Indian Chapter is almost at realization can we have any another recommendation ?--

Naveenpf18:43, 5 February 2010