RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Initiated in the year 1982, as a mission mode project, the
Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS) strived to
demonstrate the efficiency of computer based technologies for
management of data on natural resources that is responsive to
the needs of the modern management of data on natural resources
that is responsive to the needs of the ,modern management practices
for holistic planning at the district level.
When the country adopted 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments
acts(1992), empowering the locally elected bodies of governance
to participate in the process of drawing up the local area integrated
development plans, the programme responded to strengthen this
movement by initiating appropriate R & D activities in different
academic and research institution of national repute, for development
of data analyzing tools and methods for organizing a large matrix
of sectoral data relating to natural resources, demography, socio-economy.
Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS) programme
is a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional R&D programme
of the Department of Science and Technology, aimed at developing
methodologies for building and promoting the use of spatial data
management and analysis technologies in local area planning. In
the context of NRDMS, any natural resource, which is important
for local area development, is relevant for study. For developing
necessary inputs for local planning strategies, NRDMS is supporting
several academic and R & D Institutions with projects specially
focusing towards the need of local level planning. Emphasis is
being given on spatial data management and analysis technology
for natural resources management to carry out R & D related
to informatics especially the geo-informatics for finding solutions
to local specific problems related to natural resources and provide
necessary information to the planners to make objective decisions.
The current focus under NRDMS is on technological and institutional
capacity building in a multi-level framework below the District
level, so that people can plan their own development utilizing
the local resources. In this respect NRDMS provides tools and
techniques for assessing local level natural resources endowment,
their utilization potential and generating alternative scenarios
for development. NRDMS operates through District database centers
as its hubs. Figure.1 gives the locations where NRDMS projects
are in progress. 45 Pilot district centers are located in Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal,
Haryana, Gujarat and North East Region. The goal is to develop
a system of data sharing, data access and data use for solving
locale -specific problems.
Through the programme, Department of Science and Technology, Government
of India is aiming to provide scientific and technological inputs
in the development planning process of the country from below
ensuring ground reality that would improve the current situation
of planning and ultimately the life of the people.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
AREAS OF NRDMS:
Under NRDMS, thrust areas have been identified
to promote research and development activities on different aspects
of micro level planning. Academic institutions, research laboratories
and voluntary scientific bodies are supported for undertaking
area-specific case studies to develop and upgrade the practices
and techniques of resource management and demonstrate their efficacy.
Studies carried out over the past few years in different areas
like land and water system analysis, watershed management, groundwater
budgeting, energy planning, and landslides have contributed to
the understanding of the complex task of drawing up sustainable
development strategies for smaller area units.
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