ISRO, Alva’s and ZP to Launch ‘Bhuvan Panchayat’ Mobile Application
Mangaluru: The ISRO/NRSC, in association with Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology (AIET) and Zilla Panchayat have come forward for a MoU, to map the assets of all the Gram Panchayat’s of Mangaluru Taluk. In this regard, a workshop on “Bhuvan Panchayat” was held at the Netravati Hall, Zilla Panchayat Premises here on April 19.
The programme began with an invocation. The principal of AIET Peter Fernandes welcomed the gathering. The programme was inaugurated by ISRO Scientist Dr Jayaseelan by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering Dr Jayaseelan briefed on the functioning of Mapping Assets. He said, “Planning is an integral part of the functioning of any government, at the local level, it is the social decision making which changes lives and future of the society. Planning for the wellbeing of the people requires proper understanding of the local context including the resources, economic activities, the social and cultural environment of the area and this helps in harnessing the development potential and improve the living conditions of the people, particularly the disadvantaged sections.”
Dr Jayaseelan further said, “Towards an effective planning and development at the grass root level, the awareness of the assets available at the region is the pressing need, hence the asset directory is prepared and made available to the public. Considering the efforts towards the creation of asset directory at Panchayat/Village level, a participatory approach through crowdsourcing is followed. The assets can be spatially mapped by the registered citizens or Panchayat Raj institution representatives”.
He also said, “Asset directory is the comprehensive compilation of different types of assets/resources available in different parts of the country which are created under various schemes of the government of India, to facilitate the local population. For facilitating the asset mapping directly from the field with geo-location and photograph, the Bhuvan Panchayat Mobile application is developed.”
Managing trustee of Alva’s Education Foundation Vivek Alva said, “Bhuvan Panchayat project is looking at the growing need and to fulfill the gap of spatial data at Panchayat level, NRSC / ISRO conceptualized and realized this project to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and stakeholders for spatial, participatory. integrated decentralized planning in the country.”
Vivek also said, “The objectives of the Bhuvan Panchayat is to generate and provide satellite image maps for the entire country as a base for decentralized planning. To prepare thematic and base layers on 1:10,000 scale using satellite image maps and cadastral maps vectorization and georeferencing such as land use/land cover, drainage, and water bodies, slope classes maps. To develop comprehensive web portal as per PRIs and stakeholders need for decentralized planning and governance, outreach the citizens and data dissemination. AIET is one among the ten colleges in India associated with ISRO for Bhuvan Panchayat Project, This initiative will help to map all the available assets in all Gram Panchayat’s of Mangaluru Taluk, which will help in the meticulous planning of the Gram Panchayat in future.”
ZP CEO Dr M R Ravi speaking on the occasion said, “To bring changes in the life of the people and the administration this workshop will benefit. In the entire state, in all the taluks all the assets of the Gram Panchayat will be mapped. We should take the opportunity when such technologies will come to our district. We have a misunderstanding about Asset mapping, but we are very careful in protecting our assets, but who will protect public property. Who has to own the public asset? The Public asset becomes nobody’s responsibility, that should not be the attitude. The approach should be every asset is created out of the public money becomes the public asset. It is the responsibility of every citizen whether he is with the department or outside the department he /she should take care of the public asset. Every public asset is created with the intention of enhancing the welfare of the public.”
Dr Ravi further said, “To collect the information about the profile of the Gram Panchayat it is difficult because we are very poor in documentation. We do good work but we lack in projecting the good things. Bhuvan Panchayat is to empower the general public and empowering the officials who are involved in Panchayat Raj Institutions. We need to understand the requirements and demands of the Panchayat and we need to question whether the government is fulfilling the requirements. Today we believe in consulting the people, trying to understand the problems and demands and trying to solve them.”
