Netting Information

Development Alternatives was among the first NGOs to be designated as an ENVIS Centre supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF). As a distribution centre of ENVIS, our capacity is amply demonstrated in channelling the queries to the right sources and disseminating information to users. Till date, Development Alternatives with its DAINET programme, has built up a loose network of 3000 national and international partners. Network activities include providing expertise, training, technology packages, and market support to other independent sector groups

DAINET has done pioneering work in the area of Geographic Information Systems for environmental management. Environmental impact assessments and district level planning experiments have been undertaken adopting a combination of Participatory/Rapid Rural Appraisal and GIS techniques.

This experience has provided a firm foundation in understanding the issues associated with gathering, processing, storing, retrieving and sharing both spatial and non-spatial information.

The independent sector needs timely, useful and reliable information for decision making. A large part of this information, though available, is not easily accessible to them. DAINET is providing a leadership role in bridging this information gap by facilitating access to information through the latest advances in information and tele communication technology.

Over the last three years, DAINET has been considerably upgrading its information systems operation for strengthening independent sector information services for sustainable development in the Indian sub-continent. During this design and development phase of DAINET, several lessons have been learnt and also confidence built up so that it is possible to incrementally build the bridges between sustainable development activities at the grassroots and global levels. Today, DAINET is playing a prime role in India as an Information Network of Independent Sector Organisations for sustainable development.

As part of this process, DAINET is gearing itself as a regional information system for sustainable development in the Indian subcontinent. The DAINET Hub at Delhi will act as the ‘Regional Information Centre for Sustainable Development’ for global partners - such as Earth Network and IISD’s Spinning the Web programme. Through this collaboration with major stakeholders, the NGOs in the subcontinent will be able to exchange information with their counterparts in different parts of the world.

The process of such collaboration would be through consultation with information professionals, decision makers and through grassroots interaction. Several rounds of such consultation have been conducted to explore modalities of developing partnership with key institutions including sub-regional information centres to facilitate exchange and sharing of information products and services with grassroots organisations.

Through consultations many lessons have been learnt, that in India, several government and academic databases exist that can provide useful information for decision making. These databases have not, however, had much impact on the work of Independent Sector Organisations (ISOs) or on improving their inputs to policy formulation because:

In the absence of right to information and transparency, the government may restrict the information flow without assigning any reason. To facilitate the effectiveness of independent sector action for sustainable development, there is an urgent need to set up information networks operated primarily by and for the independent sector. DAINET is the first initiative in this direction.

As most of the NGOs are involved in action research, awareness generation, development action, watchdog and policy advocacy within the ambit of sustainable development, NGOs at the grassroots level have little access to resources including information. About 100 national NGOs have access to various information sources including the conventional and electronic means of communication.

Village level socio-economic, natural resources, infrastructure data and also policies and procedures on schemes and programmes are not easily accessible by most of the NGOs. Moreover, grassroots NGOs are involved in collection of primary data resulting in duplication and are mostly dependent on their own traditional networks to collect the information.

As most of the NGO users have low levels of computer literacy, they are totally out of pace with the other categories of information users even though there are a few who are relatively advanced and share information with the international counterparts through the state-of-the-art information technology. The majority also does not have an easy access to the finances required for training the requisite personnel and procuring the basic equipment.

To get sustainable development related information, most of the NGOs need the basic hardware and those who possess it, need training on how to effectively use automated information system. Speedy automation and mounting of available databases is one of the most critical imperatives. Careful automation can help reduce problems of delays, duplication and promote resource sharing.

Current users of electronic networks do not find them dependable due to downtimes, non-availability of telephone lines, power failure, break down in telephone lines or servers.

NGOs are well equipped to carry the message of sustainable development to micro-level community group. They have excellent spread and reach, even to remote areas through conventional means. Most of them are organised and are therefore, in a position to respond to specific user needs. They could act as the link between the automated and non-automated parts. The requirements of NGOs merit special attention as they are a unique sustainable development community which is virtually marginalised from the automated categories. They need to automate their manual works to exploit their potential.

DAINET has now reached a stage to provide a catalytic support to some of the operational procedures, identified during the consultations. Through this process people can see, feel and experience for themselves the benefits of the modern information exchange system in tandem with conventional modes of information exchange. q

Video Films of
Environment
and Development

The catalogue of ‘Video Films on Environment’ is available on payment of Rs. 10/-. The Cassettes are of varying duration – 30 minutes to 60 minutes. They are very reasonably priced. DA does not make any profit on the sale. Please write to:

Communication Unit
Development Alternatives
B-32 Tara Crescent, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 016

The catalogue covers 38 prize/award winning films.

Yusuf Mehr Ali Centre

60 kms from Bombay city is the village Tara. Once there used to be enough forest to feed the tribal population. But today, with the disappearance of forests, hunger and disease have become a common feature in the village. Yusuf Mehr Ali Centre is helping the villagers to generate income and turn the flow of money from the cities to the villages. The film documents its efforts to develop the village health and other infrastructure.

Ruchi

Life in the mountains can be tough, more so if you are a woman. The women of Himachal Pradesh have accepted as their fate the fact that they have to work in the fields, at home, rear the kids and deal with husbands who are alcoholics. This was until a voluntary organization called RUCHI(Rural Centre for Human Interest) came along. Over the years, the organization has worked with the people to improve their standard of living and stop further degradation of the environment in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Over the years, the local people with the help of the organization have been able to build schools for kids, health centres and improve the irrigation facilities. Now the locals are getting loans to buy cattle as well. The film documents the efforts of RUCHI and its impact on the area.

Vigyan Ashram

In the state of Maharashtra, a voluntary organization called Vigyan Ashram has been formed. Their aim is to take science and technology to the villages. Dr. S.S. Kalbagh is the founder of the organization. The organization trains young students by conducting courses like water resource development, animal husbandry, energy and environment etc. by giving them practical working experience. This organization also trains them in building special domes, new techniques in poultry and agriculture.

Sarvodaya Ashram

About 15 kms from Hardoi in UP is Sikundrapur, where an organization inspired by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave is located. Sarvodaya Ashram has been involved in various developmental activities. The organization has helped the poorer farmer’s to reclaim their land from salination. The farmers put in their labour and the organization provides them with the resources. About 11.5 lakh hectares of land in UP is saline and, therefore, unfit for agriculture. Apart from wasteland development which remains their major thrust area, the organization has been trying to generate awareness amongst the villagers about new farming techniques, various government policies and matters of law. They have also been involved with various other developmental activities like organizing women, giving them better economic opportunities and promoting health awareness in the area. One of their most impressive achievements has been to found a school for the poor children usually belonging to the backward classes. The school, apart from giving education also trains children in making durries. The children also take care of a local plant nursery.