An application of O.R. in micro-level planning in India

Abstract This study was undertaken by an interdisciplinary research team of the Centre for Applied Systems Analysis in Development (CASAD) at the Kheda district of Gujarat state and Bankura district in West Bengal State, India to develop effective decision support systems for the local level planners. The decision makers at the district level want to generate various alternative scenarios under different socio-economic and environmental conditions before taking actual investment decisions. One case study on health planning and location is presented to demonstrate the usefulness of such decision support systems. The model is finally transformed into a user-interactive computer program through which a number of alternatives can be generated and evaluated by the decision makers. The model is being used by the user-department (health) at two districts in India.