Mr Amitabha Pande, Joint Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, elaborates upon Indian geo-spatial policies in a judicious mix of directions and hope touching upon NSDI initiatives, the role of market forces and the crucial aspect of Right to Spatial Information.
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What is the status Geographic Information policy in India?
The use of geographic information for purposes other than defence is relatively recent. Unlike many developed countries, the use of maps has not been widespread in India and the culture of making use of maps is also relatively underdeveloped. Since the use was restricted to defence and other government departments, policies were related primarily to standards of production of geographic data geared to providing accurate and reliable data to armed forces. It is for this purpose, map information was also seen as being sensitive and sharing of information with wider public was therefore not encouraged especially on account of its potential of being misused.
So all policies were therefore primarily internal to the government. It is only now that geographic information is being seen as vital infrastructure along with the trend towards the right to information. There is an articulated need for a policy framework for making data assets already created available and accessible to the larger public.
The proposed National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) is an attempt to establish a policy framework which will promote, direct, guide and regulate both the production and dissemination of information as relevant to societal needs. The importance of having a policy framework has already been recognised and a lot of thinking has gone into it after extensive consultation. There is an overwhelming consensus on the kind of policy framework required and the strategy to make geographic information available and accessible.
What are the inhibiting factors regarding policy?
The main inhibiting factors for this policy framework to be effectively operational are security related concerns. These issues have also been addressed and solutions have been proposed which safeguard security interest. It is expected that the whole policy of restricting geographic information will shortly undergo a change. Some liberalization has already taken place. Although the pace of liberalization so far has been slow but now it is picking up.
Can you further elaborate on the liberalization that has taken place?
Specifically the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to the concept of two different series of maps. One which is for the use of armed forces and cannot be used elsewhere and another is for wider civilian use. There are still some unresolved issues relating to the information content and sensitivities of sharing of height related information. But for this also, specific solutions have been proposed. We are hopeful that these solutions will be found acceptable.
Are the existing data producers able to provide the service to the satisfaction of users/customers?
The single largest users of the Survey of India's (SoI) services have been the defence forces which accounted for the unique manpower structure of SoI. SoI has been manned largely by personnel belonging to the armed forces who are generally oriented towards the needs of the defence forces.
They did have some other clients mainly large infrastructure related
projects, but these were again largely within the government. So a proper client service provider relationship did not emerge.
Moreover, there were no commercial incentives to encourage a service orientation. It is only now when newer markets and other civilian clients are emerging as the bigger clients that SoI has been forced to think of itself as a service provider who has to strive for customer satisfaction. For that again, we have had intense discussions within the SoI and with
other potential customers and users of geo-spatial information.
Apart from policy, what are the other factors you feel are affecting geographic information market?
Unless the demand side starts exercising pressures for improved level of high quality service, the existing organizations desire to change will not be effective. This demand is now building especially because alternative sources of information are available. There is a genuine threat that unless organizations like the SoI transform themselves to a completely different approach and give up many of the roles relevant in the past but no longer necessary, they are likely to become extinct. The SoI is trying to reinvent itself and hopefully, instead of converting opportunities into threats which it did in the past, it will convert threats into opportunity. Its greatest strength is its image, its brand equity and the quality and reliability of its data assets.
As IT awareness increases, GIS will also become more and more mass based. The Right to Spatial Information should be recognized as a fundamental part of the Right to Information. In fact, if the market becomes truly demanding and lively, then it will take care of access to information, whether or not the government has a policy.
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What have been the developments since SoI's restructuring workshop held in November last year?
In fact not enough has happened but elements of a strategy are beginning to emerge. Strategy itself is getting fashioned by the changes taking place in information market place. Three significant things have happened. Firstly, SoI is beginning to work out strategic alliances with industry and have already introduced some new products in collaboration with industry in the market. Secondly, it is taking much more active role in NSDI as a leader and a driver. And thirdly, it has increased the pace of digitization of its data assets exponentially. One year ago its digitization was supposed to be achieved in 5-7 years but it is now expected to be completed in 5 to 7 months. It has got into a very novel partnership with NIIT for associating their trainees in the digitization efforts which on the one hand enables those trainees to acquire new skills and improve employment prospects and on the other it gives SoI a quick method of converting analogue data in a digital form. There is also a fresh drive both in terms of methodology changes and acquiring modern equipments and skills for data acquisition and updation.
What role geographic information market can play in influencing the policy?
Market needs to play a key role in influencing policy. People who intent to misuse information get it by whatever means. The sufferers are the genuine users. In fact, we need to look at the issue of stimulating demand rather than getting too obsessed with policy. Information markets are still not fully developed. But once the demand for information increases, then it becomes a political issue. A few years ago, who was bothered about the map restriction policy.
Market needs to play a key role in influencing policy. People who intent to misuse information get it by whatever means. The sufferers are the genuine users. In fact, we need to look at the issue of stimulating demand rather than getting too obsessed with policy. Information markets are still not fully developed.
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Today, we have people beginning to aggressively agitate for changing the policy. However, geographic information is still being used largely by the government agencies and the wider civil society remains untouched. And that's where our efforts should lie - in creating and stimulating new information markets. In the west, every one is a map user and city maps are sold in millions but in India city maps are sold only in thousands. GIS is being used by professionals not by the masses.
GIS providers have not really looked into these larger markets. As IT awareness increases, GIS will also become more and more mass based. The Right to Spatial Information should be recognized as a fundamental part of the Right to Information. In fact, if the market becomes truly demanding and lively, then it will take care of access to information, whether or not the government has a policy.
What do you think about remote sensing policy in the context of availability of high-resolution imageries whose purchase is regulated in India but can easily be bought outside?
Is it anything to do with the continuation of monopoly by concerned agency?
I am not aware of the factors that influences the restricted sales of high-resolution imageries to users when the same imageries can be bought by any individual on the web. However, I am against any kind of monopoly. Single agency distribution of imagery also encourages monopolistic trends and does not give the user the choice to buy the best quality at the best price.
