Minor Irrigation Census Computerization: A Step towards ICT For Micro Level Planning in Water Resources Management and Planning to Achieve Rural Prosperity

India’s achievements in development of Water Resources have been remarkable, since independence. The National Water Policy 2002 has addressed the issues related to develop, conserve, utilize and manage these important natural resources in this Millennium. There are approximately 20 million Minor Irrigation structures in the country, which are classified as: Dugwell, Shallow Tube well, Deep Tube well, Surface Flow Irrigation Scheme, and Surface Lift Irrigation Scheme.The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) has already conducted three Censuses with the reference Year: 1986-87, 1993-94 and 2000-01, and currently Census with the reference Year 2006-07 is in progress. National Informatics Centre (NIC) is involved in computerizing the census data and subsequent data analysis as per the business logic given by MoWR.This Paper draws a roadmap for using this database for formulating various Schemes to improve the socio-economic condition of small and marginal farmer, and also its immense need for grassroots level development and planning for Water Resources Management and Planning. This paper also shows as to how this database is useful to the national initiatives such as “DISNIC-Plan: IT for Micro Level Planning”, a Central Sector Schemes of NIC and recommended by Planning Commission (http://www.disnic.gov.in) and “Agriculture Resources Information Systems (AgRIS)”, a Central Sector Scheme of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation in Pilot Districts (http://www.agris.nic.in). This becomes a major component of the proposed “National Water Portal” of the MOWR.