IT Support

During past decade, WOTR has developed various software systems for managing large scale projects.

Software Developed by WOTR :

• Management Information System (MIS) for Integrated Watershed Management :

This is used for collating, organising and analysing data depending upon needs as well as the kind of information required. It is customised for both the project level (implementers) as well as the programme level (Project officers, managers, etc.). Used by the Indo-German Watershed Programme, Maharashtra and Indo Swiss Participative Watershed Development Karnataka (ISPWDK).

• Decision Support System (DSS) for Integrated Watershed Management

This can be used at both programme level as well as the project level. The DSS provides the tools with which to measure and monitor successive events which are expected to lead to successful implementation of the program/project. It provides information to support decisions at the project and at the overall program level. It charts the sequences of activities that a project must undertake to reach a given milestone.

It is used by WOTR for Indo German Watershed Development Programme (IGWDP) and other programmes and Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihood Programme (APRLP).

• Participatory Net Planning (PNP)

Participatory Net Planning is the method adopted to survey and plan area treatments as well as minor drainage line treatments to be implemented in each and every Gat/Survey number of the watershed in collaboration with the farmer couple. 

WOTR’s Net Planning software prepares a database of land resources, existing and proposed treatments to be undertaken (with costs involved). It gives micro to macro-level information of the watershed. This software generates the land resource classes as per the soil slope, depth, texture and erosion status. It gives the various possible options of proposed land use after treatments are undertaken. More than one treatment can be entered for one Gat/Survey number. The software also generates a proposal in this regard. It is useful at the Project level for project formulation purposes.

This software is used by WOTR for IGWDP and other projects, Partner NGOs of WOTR, APRLP, PIAs of DPAP-Maharashtra, partner NGOs of ISPWDK, Partner NGOs of National Watershed Development Fund (NWDF).

• Expert System for Project Appraisal and Verification 

This software checks the Net Plan once it is fed in. It checks cost per hectare, land class v/s land use, treatments in proposed land use, length, cross section and cost of treatments, number of plants to be planted, number of units proposed. This reduces mistakes in planning and subsequently the time lag between proposal submission and sanctioning, since Gat/Survey number-wise scrutiny is done by this software. This checking is done according to the schedule of cost and treatments sanctioned for each land use. 

This software offers online help to the user while entering data, concerning the various technical terms used. According to the proposed land use, a cost estimation summary is generated for implementation of the treatments. It automatically generates a qurey/checklist for variations or inconsistancies that exists in proposal. It is used at the programme level for sanctioning purposes and can also be adopted for the project level in order to prepare problem free and consistent project proposals.

This software is used by WOTR for IGWDP and other programmes.

• Socio-Economic Survey & Analysis

Soio-Economic survey and analysis is a very important aspect of any developmental activity. 

WOTR has developed a very useful and easy-to-use Socio-Economic Survey and Analysis Software. This software helps to prepare demographic details, household category-wise population report, education status, land holding and cropping pattern of the village, livestock details of the village, income and expenditure of families in the village.

The information regarding every family in the village can be retrieved in any manner required. Once village information is collected and stored in this software, the software helps to analyse the changes that take place in the entire village as well as in each individual family. 

This software is used by WOTR for IGWDP and other projects, Partner NGOs of WOTR and partner NGOs of ISPWDK.

• Muster Preparation

Muster sheet is the basic document of any work done in the watershed. Accounts are kept on the basis of Muster payments. Musters need to be summarised and analysed for preparation of further reports. Preparation of these reports manually requires lots of time and effort (Approximately 5-6 mandays are required for preparing a muster sheet of 100 labourers working for 2 weeks). 

WOTR has developed a very user-friendly software for Muster Sheet Preparation. It can be used in the regional language at local level. Using this data various registers can be printed, for e.g. 

- Muster Sheet
- Muster Summary
- Labour Bill Book 
- Measurement Book
- Gat/Survey number-wise Register
- Landuse-wise Work Register

The “work done” entry needs to be done only once and the data is then transferred to all the above-mentioned registers. This helps to reduce the clerical workload of the site personnel. The software produces work related reports on just a single click, reducing monotonous and tedious tasks, thus freeing the staff for other more important work. This is used at project level.

This software is used by WOTR for IGWDP and other projects, Partner NGOs of WOTR, PIAs of DPAP-Maharashtra, partner NGOs of ISPWDK.

• Management Information System for Micro Finance 

This MIS is developed for the Micro Finance Institutions and is extensively used by SAMPADA Trust (WOTR’s sister organisation), to manage its MF transactions and generate critical analytical reports so as to take timely decisions which results into effective management. It also manages the information about the various loan products, target groups, funders, etc. Some of the reports which have generated through this MIS are as follows:
- Loan Overdue Analysis
- Disbursement Analysis
- Recovery Analysis
- Ratio Analysis
- Sub Ledger balances, etc.

This system is user friendly and used by SAMPADA Trust.

• Software for Trainings 

This software involves data maintenance of the various training programs conducted by the organisation, resource person’s details, and participant’s details. It also includes the training budget as well as expenditure details, preparation of program schedule, etc. This software is used by WOTR and SAMPADA Trust to manage their training portfolios.

Software Developed as per Specific Requirements

• Decision Support System for Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihood Programme (APRLP)

This system was developed for the Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihood Programme (APRLP), of the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. It is a Decision Support System for the monitoring and implementation of a large-scale watershed programme being supported by the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. This basically includes the selection of watersheds and Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs), Work Plan, Work Report, Trainings for watershed development, and Account details. This program is intended to help the decision makers to take appropriate and timely action for the smooth implementation of a large-scale watershed program.

The System consists of the following key components:

• Selection process of watersheds and communities

• Selection process of PIAs

• Identification of the processes, inputs and lacunae in the awareness generation process

• Formation, functions and responsibilities of community based organizations

• Incorporation of financial and activity planning

• Sanction of planned activities and allocation of financial resources

• Physical and financial progress of the watershed.

• Training inputs together with the progress of the project and status of conducted programs

• Tracking of objective-oriented processes, outputs and impacts 

• Overall monitoring at program level

• Management Information System for Indo-Swiss Participative Watershed Development Programme – Karnataka (ISPWDK)

The ISPWDK is a Watershed Development Programme funded by SDC/IC, implemented in 3 districts of Karnataka with the assistance of 3 different NGOs. It is an integrated watershed development programme including focus areas like Watershed Rehabilitation, Agriculture Production, Livelihood Promotion, Capacity Building, etc.

The System consists of following key components:

• Focus area wise financial and activity planning

• Sanction of the planned activities and allocation of financial resources

• Formation, functions and responsibilities of community based organizations

• Focus area wise financial and activity progress of the project

• Training inputs given to different stakeholders of the project

• Tracking of objective-oriented processes, outputs and impacts 

• Overall monitoring at project level
  

• Software for Monitoring of Watershed Projects for Department of Soil Conservation & Watershed Management, Government of Maharashtra

This Software Module has been developed for the Government of Maharashtra, Department of Soil Conservation & Watershed Management for monitoring watershed works undertaken by the department under various programmes/schemes. It is a monitoring tool to monitor work done against the sanctioned plan. The data consolidation in this software is at various levels of hierarchy i.e. Watershed-Village-Mandal-Taluka-District-State. Besides this, it also manages the database of all the personnel involved in the implementation of the watershed projects.

WOTR has also developed a tool for connecting MIS data to the GIS-based maps. This helps in preparing plot level land-use/land cover maps, work progress map, household-wise socio-economic details for further analysis. 

Furthermore, this unit is also working at integrating visual as well as attribute data (including remote sensing) on a GIS platform for purposes of modeling, documentation and monitoring. Systems, methodologies and tools are also being developed using multimedia to facilitate mass mobilisation and enhance participation, both at the group and individual level.

Satellite images of Shenit Watershed implemented by WOTR for the period January 1996 (Image -1: pre watershed work image) and December 1999 (Image-2: during the course of watershed implementation) 

for Change Detection Study