To develop a comprehensive plan of developing natural resources by focusing on water augmentation strategies, a 3-day training titled “GIS-Based MGNREGA Planning” kicked-started on August 24 at Conference Hall, Baroo.

The training aims to enhance the capacities of block level functionaries for developing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) plans by using GIS tools.

The training is being organised by GIZ India and the Government of UT Ladakh, which intends to promote livelihood works, address water security and climate change as programmed under the Water Security and Climate Adaptation in Rural India-II (WASCA-II) initiative of GIZ India.

A total of 39 participants appeared on the first day of the training. The WASCA-II approach works to optimize integration of land, water and vegetation for livelihood enhancement of farmers by strengthening NRM-based activities in 15 Agro Climatic Zones of India and follows the Composite Water Resource Management Plan (CWRM) framework to achieve convergence of government schemes and appropriate implementation and timely monitoring.

Assistant Commissioner Development, Kargil, Ghulam Mohammed, who was present during the first day of training urged the participants to utilize the training as an opportunity to develop the MGNREGA plans by using the handy technology of GIS.

He emphasized on the achievements of UT Ladakh for developing water conservation measures and sought the role of GIS in strengthening the existing and new plans developed by the district.

He said that a lot of works have been done on development of water tanks and water distribution channels. The new works like ice hockey grounds have been taken up to reflect the integrated water conservation.

Dr Jagdish Purohit, Technical Advisor, GIZ made the participants familiar with the WASCA-II strategy of implementation of water conservation with the scope of ascertaining area of interventions.

He briefed about the role of Web Map Service layers for the characterization of landscapes and plotting the new works. He also focused on achieving convergence for resource utilization for addressing climate change.

GIS Experts and State Coordinator, WASCA-II also presented their opinion on better planning.