The Palamau District Unit of NIC in south Bihar has undertaken a Drought Relief Monitoring Project for the Government of Bihar. The project, which is partially implemented, envisages a drought-proof Palamau, which otherwise has a long history of being prone to droughts.
The Government of Bihar has prepared a comprehensive programme which envisages steps such as conservation of land, minor irrigation, afforestation, etc. To keep up the pace of various drought-prone area development programmes and enhance their effectiveness, the Government requires a constant flow of information from such areas.
Because of the adverse geographical conditions prevailing in Palamu, the NIC Palamau District Centre has been entrusted with the responsibility of providing timely information to the concerned authorities. The project will facilitate the creation of various databases.
Usually, whenever natural calamities such as droughts occur, utter chaos prevails. Consequently, it becomes a tedious task to collect factual information because information pours in from all sources ranging from individuals to local bodies. The new computerized system developed by NIC will try to administer this information by classifying, categorizing, and organizing them into useful reports and finally synthesizing the relevant information. Classification of such information is of immense help to the administration for taking corrective measures at the spur of the moment.
Partial implementation of the project has shown encouraging results. The project facilitates the monitoring of irrigation facilities. Monitoring of both physical and financial progress of different check dams has already been accomplished through this project.
The computerized system manages databases and monitors man-days created and to be executed by different offices, block members, technical and other heads for the construction and widening of roads, construction of tanks, deepening of wells, minor irrigation works and soil conservation measures in the event of droughts.
The computerized system also monitors a very important public utility service of provision of safe and pure drinking water.
The data relating to villages in need of water, supplied by the package, is very useful for the civic authorities. Based on the data feedback, it is possible for the Administration to put special emphasis in activities which could yield the best results for the worst-affected areas. Data is collected every week from the Panchayat to monitor the existing and operational wells, tube wells and other sources of water. Thereafter, the data is compiled and the progress made with respect to population is worked out to present a clear picture before the policy makers.
Last but not the least, the project will also review the availability of Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets to ensure that essential commodities are made available to the vulnerable sections of the society in the event of a drought. Data on total allotment, total deposit of sugar, rice, wheat and oil is collected and updated at a weekly basis.
This project will go a long way in erasing the pangs of this drought-prone district of Bihar.