Technology
The 'I' of GIS
A major breakthrough was achieved in the Indian governance system. When on July 15, the Rajasthan government released an extraordinary gazette notification, which allows inspection of records, noting down details or taking photocopies of documents relating to construction work done in rural areas. The dedicated and committed volunteers under the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan banner, who made it possible, see is as a potential weapon to combat corruption and malpractice in rural development contracts.
In another interesting move, the Union government has asked the NIC (National Informatics Centre) to put up information kiosks outside each ministry, so that the 'Janta' gets the unclassified information easily, which is their constitutional right.
But how does all this concern us as a GIS professional?
The software revolution has made available some of the world's best GIS software to India. But, the most important ingredient of a GIS, the INFORMATION, is still 'virtually' missing in our country. Data collection agencies, research organizations and institutions get massive funds for the data collection activities by the government. Unfortunately, most of this effort only produces some research papers, or reports which get lost in the myriad of Indian administrative setup. Basic data of national importance is usually not accessible to common people as well as to the researchers for scrutiny or analysis. The private sector and the NGOs, never get it for the same purpose, for which the government uses it, i.e. for development
In the age of rapid growth of information technology tools, we are going to be slow in supplying information for the development of our own people. This is the prediction of no other agency than TIFAC, the government appointed body for technology forecasting. And this is not a positive news for the GIS industry, or for that matter the overall development of the country. An attempt has been made to present and analyze the TIFAC report for the benefit of GIS community in this issues.
The initiatives of the government, in the recent past to begin debate on replacing the 'Official Secrets Act' with 'Freedom of Information Bill', introducing Prasar Bharti Bill, Serious moves on opening up Internet Service Provider (ISP) business to private sector has raised some hopes for information liberalization in the country.
The thrust of the data collection in the country now, in the words of N, Seshagiri of NIC, is "of the government, by the government, for the government". It must be for the 'Janta'. Let's work together to make it possible.