Recent news has highlighted the launch of a new geospatial planning portal known as ‘Yuktdhara’. This innovative technology has been initiated by the Ministry of Rural development, aimed at aiding the functioning of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) assets. Yuktdhara promises to leverage the capabilities of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS).
Collaborative Effort: ISRO & Ministry of Rural Development
Yuktdhara stands as a testament to the joint efforts of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Ministry of Rural Development. It is designed to deliver G2G (Government-to-Government) services for rural planning. These services are intended to support decentralised decision making, a phenomenon crucial in contemporary governance models.
The Role of Bhuvan Geoportal
Bhuvan, ISRO’s previously launched geoportal, has played an instrumental role in materializing Yuktdhara. Currently, Bhuvan is the de-facto geospatial platform for numerous developmental planning activities taking place across India. It serves as a wellspring of assets or geotags created under various National Rural Development Programmes. This list includes programs like MGNREGA, Per Drop More Crop Programmes, Integrated Watershed Management Programme, and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
What Yuktdhara Entails
Yuktdhara will have the ability to integrate a diverse range of thematic layers. Further, it will establish a significant connection with multi-temporal high-resolution earth observation data along with the analysis tool. The online tools provided will facilitate the identification of new work options by analysing the assets generated under various schemes. The task does not end with the preparation of plans. There are set provisions for these plans to be evaluated by the appropriate authorities functioning under State Departments.
Bhuvan Portal: A Remarkable Catalyst
The Bhuvan Portal is a web portal used to locate and access geographic information and related services via the Internet. It carefully presents the accurate borders of the country as per the provided data from the Government of India. The increasing trend of using MapmyIndia maps and applications instead of foreign map apps is a significant move towards protecting user privacy. Aligning with the government’s mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Bhuvan portal reflects the spirit of self-reliance in its functioning.
Other Noteworthy Rural Development Programmes
Several other rural development programmes are noteworthy for their contributions. Some among these programmes include Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana or National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin, Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, and Gobar Dhan Yojana. These initiatives continue to make significant strides in advancing rural development in India.