Climate Information Service Tool for MNREGA programs - U-CRISP inaugurated at Mapcast campus

• 04 Sep 2023

Why in News?

On September 1, 2023, the Climate Information Service Tool for MGNREGA programmes - U-CRISP (Universal Climate Resilience Information System and Planning Tool) was launched at the Mapcast campus in the main hospitality of Madhya Pradesh Science and Technology Minister Om Prakash Sakhlecha and British Deputy High Commissioner and Minister Christina Scott.

Key Points:

• This tool has been developed by the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology in collaboration with the International Institute for Environment and Development under the Department of Rural Development, Government of India.
• Minister Sakhlecha said that through this tool, it will help in understanding the ecosystem and climatic conditions. Villages will be connected through this tool, so that the villages will get the benefit of the information received. Also, this tool can help in understanding ecosystem nature.
• Science and Technology Minister Om Prakash Sakhlecha and British Deputy High Commissioner and Minister Christina Scott also inaugurated the newly built Resource Centre set up for global use and training of global officials under the Climate Resilience Plan at a one-day workshop in Mapcast.
• An MoU was signed between Mapcast and the British High Commissioner to promote science, technology and innovation. The MoU will enable the two institutions to plan, work and share new technologies in various technologies and innovations in the future.
• The U Crisp tool has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the United Kingdom Government's Infrastructure-Structure for Climate Resilient Growth Programme (ICRG) portfolio.
• In view of the need, the creation of universal tools, under which climate change activities will be edited in other countries as well. This tool has also been included in the 'Top 10 Innovation Tools' by the BBC.
• The U-CRISP tool will provide the necessary support to rural communities in meeting the potential challenges of climate change. It facilitates the access and sharing of local climate data to rural households, helps them cope with the climate crisis and access resources to protect their livelihoods.
• The tool will help better manage climate impacts and provide an integrated approach to building water conservation. It can also support land development and plantation works under development initiatives of various departments such as agriculture, forest, water resources etc.
• Climate resilience plans from this tool can also support securing rural areas from prolonged drought.