Workshop on Open Data for Human Development
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Openness
Sumandro Chattapadhyay
2 June 2015
Sikkim Open Data Acquisition and Accessibility Policy
Government of Sikkim passed the SODAA Policy in 2014 so as to streamline and open up the availability of “authentic data to buttress the achievements of the Government of Sikkim and to gather data on key metrics to be able to spur growth in all the areas of human development.” The Policy mandates setting up an open data portal, hosted by the State Data Centre of Sikkim, where data contributed by all the state government agencies will reside, and from which the same data will be made openly accessible to government agencies, non-government organisations, and private individuals alike. Only data that is shareable – data that is not part of negative list prepared by any government agency – and that is non-sensitive – data that does not contain information that can be used to identify any private individual – will be made available through this Sikkim open data portal. The Department of Information Technology of the Government of Sikkim has been assigned the role of being the nodal agency for coordinating and monitoring the implementation “of policy through close collaboration with all State Government Departments and agencies.”
Objectives of the Workshop
The Government of Sikkim understands that data collection, management, and reporting processes at the different departments must go through a structural reconfiguration before systematic and sustainable publication of data through this open data portal can be possible. This work will of course involve a long duration of change, and participation of a wide range of actors. The International Centre for Human Development, at UNDP India, is organising this workshop for Sikkim government officials to conceptualise and develop the outlines of an action strategy towards this goal of streamlining data acquisition and publication processes across government departments.
Discussions in this workshop will focus on the activities of four departments of the Government of Sikkim – Department of Health, Rural Management and Development Department (RMDD), Human Resource Development Department (HRDD), and Department of Agriculture. At least two officials from each of these departments would take part in the workshop. Apart from these departments, officials from Department of Information Technology (DIT), Department of Economic Statistics, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DESME), and others, will also participate.
Apart from government officials from Sikkim, those from Bhutan, Maldives, Meghalaya, and Tripura will also attend the workshop, so as to think ahead towards their respective open data initiatives.
Agenda of the Workshop
Day 1: June 3, 2015
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 0930-1000 | Welcome and Introductions A.K. Shiva Kumar, Director, IC4HD P.D. Rai, Honourable Member of Parliament (LS) from Sikkim |
| 1000-1100Session 1 | Panel DiscussionData and Transparency in GovernanceModerator: P. D. RaiPanellists:
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| 1100-1130Session 2 | Sikkim Open Data Acquisition and Accessibility PolicyModerator: P. D. RaiPresentation by: T. Samdup, Joint Director, Department of Information Technology, Sikkim |
| 1130-1200 | Tea Break |
| 1200-1300Session 3 | Implementing an Open Data Policy – Key ComponentsModerator: A. K. Shiva KumarPresentation by: Sumandro Chattapadhyay, The Centre for Internet and Society |
| 1300-1400 | Lunch |
| 1400-1430Session 4 | Group Exercise 1Challenges of Opening up Government Data in SikkimFacilitated by: Sumandro Chattapadhyay |
| 1430-1530Session 5 | Mobile Phone-based Data CollectionIntroduction to Akvo FLOWModerator: Meenaz Munshi, IC4HDPresentation by: Joy Ghosh and Amitangshu Acharya, AKVO |
| 1530-1600 | Tea Break |
| 16:00-1730Session 6 | Group Exercise 2Collecting Data Using Akvo FLOWFacilitated by: Joy Ghosh and Amitangshu Acharya, AKVO |
Day 2: June 4, 2015
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 0930-1000Session 7 | Analysing, Visualising, and Publishing DataModerator: Amitangshu AcharyaPresentation by: Thejesh GN, DataMeet |
| 1000-1045Session 8 | Collecting, Visualising, and Publishing Geographic DataModerator: Amitangshu AcharyaPresentation by: Shiv Ramachandran, MapBox |
| 1045-1145Session 9 | Group Exercise 3Organising, Analysing, Visualising, and Publishing DataFacilitated by: Thejesh GN and Shiv Ramachandran |
| 1145-1200 | Tea Break |
| 1200-1300 | Group Exercise 3Organising, Analysing, Visualising, and Publishing Data(Continued) |
| 1300-1400 | Lunch |
| 1400-1500Session 10 | Open Data and Health ManagementPresentation by: Dr. Shiban Ganju, Consultant, Ingalls Health, Harvey, Illinois, Chicago; Chair, Atrimed Health Consulting, Bangalore |
| 1500-1600Session 11 | Open Data and Primary EducationPresentation by: Gautam John, Karnataka Learning Partnership |
Day 3: June 5, 2015
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 0930-1030Session 12 | Panel DiscussionRegional Experiences and Reflections on Open DataPanellists: representative from Bhutan, and from Meghalaya |
| 1030-1115Session 13 | Implementing National Data Sharing and Accessibility PolicyPresentation by: D. P. Misra, National Informatics Centre |
| 1115-1130Session 14 | Group Exercise 4Drafting the SODAAP Implementation PlanFacilitated by: Sumandro Chattapadhyay |
| 1130-1200 | Tea Break |
| 1200-1300 | Group Exercise 4Drafting the SODAAP Implementation Plan(Continued) |
| 1300-1400 | Lunch |
| 1400-1500Session 15 | Group PresentationsDraft SODAAP Implementation PlanModerator: P. D. RaiFacilitated by: Sumandro Chattapadhyay |
| 1500-1530 | Wrap-Up and Vote of Thanks |