For open environment

This refers to the report “Engineering students locked into Microsoft Office” (April 22).

In its quest for quality, access equity and the best education for all, the All India Council for Technical Education strives on behalf of its institutes, students, faculty and, of course, society to bring in the best practices of the world, provide the best of tools to everyone, not just to those who can afford them, thus encouraging free thought and enterprise, providing a level-playing field to every stakeholder.

AICTE does not limit any institute from use of open source applications or open standards and, in fact, the link http://www.aicte-india.org/downloads/Commercial%20Software.pdf on its site informs all its stakeholders the opportunities available in an open environment.

S.S. Mantha,

Chairman, AICTE,

New Delhi