Context:
Information is very critical for effective planning and action. However many times this critical factor takes a back seat during the normal course of actions. Sometimes it happens that information is available in different formats at different places, which is not easily accessible whenever required. For an example, after the earthquake that hit Gujarat in 2001, it was difficult to start relief operations and estimate scale of damage and destruction due to lack of information. Urgent need of basic information on the region was felt by all the agencies involved in relief and rescue operations. It was strongly felt by all that centralized cell for information should be established as a part of pre-disaster mitigation measures.

The same need of information also applies for development purposes. Various organizations make duplicate efforts for collecting same type of information. At the same time even the primary stakeholders, the people, who are the subjects of information, are also in a need of this information that touches their daily lives. But due to various reasons they are also unable to access the information. Moreover, due to lack of literacy, infrastructure and low income, villages are deprived from accessing basic information. The villagers would require various types of information that would help them solving many of their dilemmas and problems and taking informed decisions.

Thus most important factor for planning and development is to collate information on various aspects and from various sources in a systematic manner, which is easy to browse, analyze and accessible to the people and various organizations as and when required. So Geographis (India) Ltd. in collaboration with VIKAS Center for Development, an Ahmedabad based NGO and SAVE (Saline Area Vitalization Enterprise) Ltd. decided to establish Mahiti Kosh (Information Cell) for Bharuch district of Gujarat State with an objective of ‘Information for all’.

Introduction to study area and roles of various organizations:
Three tehsils of Bharuch district, which is a coastal district of Gujarat state, have been included in this application at present. These tehsils are, Jambusar, Amod and Vagra, where VIKAS and SAVE are active in development process of the region. The region is characterized by widespread poverty, underdevelopment linked with degradation of natural resources, ever-expanding saline land and recurring droughts. Main economic activities of the region are agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. Main problems of the region are,

• Lack of water management systems
• Salt ingression affects agriculture areas
• Ground water and land degradation due to rapid industrial growth in surrounding region
• Prone to various types of natural disasters – cyclone, flood, drought, earthquake and manmade disasters - industrial hazards, contaminated ground water, degraded land & soil.
• Lack of transportation link within other cities and villages of the district
• Lack of storage facilities for agricultural