NSDI in India: The reality behind the dream

“NSDI has come a long way”

says Dr R Siva Kumar, Head, NRDMS
& NSDI Division, Ministry of Science and
Technology, Government of India while
assuring that it will be reality very soon

Where is NSDI at the moment?

NSDI has come a long way after Lucknow. We had successfully gone through the process of consultation and now we have agreed to create NSDI as envisaged by the Task Force and all the stakeholders. It is at the ?nal stage of approval and Government noti?cation is likely to be issued very shortly.

Any time frame?

It should not take more than three months time.

Any hurdles in creation of NSDI?

I do not foresee any hurdles in issuing of government noti?cation at the moment. What is bothering me is the preparation of stakeholders within their organizations with regard to establishment of their nodes, converting their own data into digital data and making the data accessible and available as envisioned in the NSDI.

Is it an institutional issue or temperamental issue?

It is basically an Indian issue. It takes time for us to assimilate and carry forward and there is some justi?cation for lethargy as there was delay in realizing NSDI in India for various reasons. All these contentious issues have been buried and we do not have any controversial issue at the moment. We are very hopeful now.

What about the synergy needed among various participants in NSDI?

We are expecting total synergy to be there and there is a lot of enthusiasm and more people are coming forward to take part in the NSDI – both government and non-government.

Any landmark happening in NSDI-V?

With regard to NSDI-V, we would like to show some of the technical activities we have done and probably we would be able to share some prototypes of electronic clearing house and conceptually we will be able to demonstrate the activities at NSDI-V.

NSDI is for whom? For the Government of India or for the people of India?

NSDI is for the people of India. Had it been as for the government, there would have no problem or delay.

“NSDI is a reality”

observes Dr Vandana Sharma, Senior
Technical Director, National Informatics
Centre

NSDI, a dream or a reality?

NSDI is a reality. Many organizations are working together to make it a reality. This has been a dream long time back and now converted into reality by the efforts many organizations including NIC. NSDI de?nitions have emerged later but NIC is working in this area for more than 15 years. It has been working in this direction by speeding up digitization process through joint support of many organizations, conceptualization of NSDI and by evolving processes systematically.

How much NIC is prepared to function in proposed framework of NSDI?

It is not the question of being prepared. NIC has been playing a leading role in achieving the goals of NSDI. NSDI has deliberated extensively the metadata standards and data exchange formats. NIC has already made database operational with mirror side concepts. The website of NIC provides spatial data conforming map policy and is being used by more than 3000 users all across the country. NIC is also making models for grassroots levels deliverable systems up to district levels.

Who leads NSDI?

NIC is a partner to NSDI concepts. We feel that that many organizations have to play the lead role depending upon there core competence and vision. It is a joint initiative.

Are you still struggling with issues pertaining to data ownership?

NIC has extensively deliberated this issue with concerned organizations. We strictly believe that ownerships rights need to be preserved with the data providing agencies. However part of the data must flow to national database around which various applications can be customized. We feel that many organizations are willing to disperse the data to various users and looking for web based methods to do so. But wherever it concerns with the sale of formatted data, we shall go totally by data owner’s policy. We can display data but downloads should be done according to the policies of the concerned agencies.

What do you expect from coming NSDI workshop?

Every time we meet at NSDI, issues are to be discussed, progress should be assessed and solutions should be explored, and future goals need to be set. NSDI is an ongoing process and this yearly meet does provide an opportunity to various stakeholders and to discuss and deliberate together various important issues. This year the theme is Bharat Nirman.