AN INTEGRATED SPATIAL DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM (SDSS)
FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF ORISSA
by :
Anit Ghose
Vice-President
GIS Projects & Management
Webstar Infotech(P)Ltd.
anit@websterindia.com
www.webstareroup.com
Key words: Spatial, Sustainable, VLIS (Village level Information System), SOI (Survey of India), Panchayat (Local
self Govt.), Taluka Map (Village level administrative map) etc.
Abstract:
Geographic Information Technology has developed at a remarkable pace over the past two decades and will play a key
role in development of nations in the 21st Century; thereupon many countries have already prepared their strategic
development plans for application of GIS Technology with gigantic financing endeavors. Now time has come for all
decision makers to discuss the appropriateness of GIS technology and its applications to rural development, forest
management, urban development planning, land information systems and agricultural development. This will also
provide a suitable solution for the use of GIS for educational infrastructure development with special emphasis on rural
sector in India.
Educationists, planners, researchers, decision makers, administrators, communication professionals and officials from
different departments and some reputed NGOs should be invited to discuss the role of GIS Technology and should
implement the same outcome immediately for ensuring sustainable development and socio-economic and educational
uplifting of the country.
It is concluded that a state like Orissa in India which has immense potential of development and has maximum tribal
population residing in rural area urgently needs a GIS based e-governance system such that it will help the government
in planning, implementation and monitoring of various projects for development in different fields at much faster rate
which in turn will make the state technologically more developed.
Introduction: hosting the maps on the Internet in such a way clients can
In a developing country like India where 73% of the — view the information query.
population resides in rural area and 27% in urban areas,
we need a very structured planning procedure such that It is concluded that a state like Orissa which has immense
the development activities and infrastructure facilities are potential of development and has maximum tribal
available at both urban and rural area. However, in such a population residing in rural area urgently needs a GIS
condition where majority of people leave in rural area and based e-governance system such that it will help the
are provided with the least infrastructure facilities, creates ^ government in planning, implementation and monitoring of
a regional imbalance in development, causing shift in various projects for development in different fields at much
population from rural to urban areas. Hence faster rate which in turn will make the state technologically
administrators or decision-makers require an efficient GIS more developed.
based tool which will assist them to get the updated
scenario of the region : E
8 e To provide the planners an accurate spatial view
of the district at different levels such as district,
block, village level as well as road and rail
network, drainage network e.t.c.
e To provide the planners detailed demographic
data and education & health related data on
desktop in a GIS environment.
e To assists the planners in finding out the possible
locations for the schools and health centers
The present study emphasizes the power of GIS depending on several parameters such as for
technology which will help the state government of Orissa health; population density ‚number of health
to better understand and evaluate spatial data by creating centers required and . its optimum location
graphic displays using information stored in the database ‚number of disease infected persons etc. and
Orissa as a state, it faces a number of challenges in the
path of development. One of the main causes is absence
of accurate digital data in the form of maps. The data
generated by various state government departments such
as Education, Health, PWD e.t.c are enormous but poorly
maintained; particularly the spatial data shows the
maximum inaccuracy.
1278
