The Indian Prime Minister will inaugurate the distribution of Property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme through video conferencing on 11th October. This notable move is expected to benefit roughly one lakh property owners who can access their property cards by clicking the SMS link sent to their mobile phones. The subsequent physical distribution of Property Cards will be taken care of by the respective state governments.
About SVAMITVA Scheme
SVAMITVA, an acronym for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas, is a Central Sector Scheme. It was unveiled on National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2020. With an aim to offer an integrated property validation solution for rural India, it provides the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners in rural regions and issues Property Cards. Drone Surveying technology is leveraged for the demarcation of such rural areas.
Implementation Process
The whole implementation process of this scheme will be carried out in a phased manner over four years (2020-2024). Ministry of Panchayati Raj at the national level along with the Revenue Department/Land Records Department in states is responsible for the execution. Also, Survey of India acts as a technology partner for the implementation.
Coverage Area
The scheme covers nearly 6.62 lakh villages across six states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and some border villages of Punjab & Rajasthan. In the Pilot phase (2020-21), Continuous Operating System (CORS) stations’ network will be established across Punjab and Rajasthan, which will be useful in future drone flying activities.
Nomenclature for Property Cards
Different names are given to Property Cards in various states. For instance, it is known as ‘Title deed’ in Haryana, ‘Rural Property Ownership Records (RPOR)’ in Karnataka, ‘Adhikar Abhilekh’ in Madhya Pradesh, ‘Sannad’ in Maharashtra, ‘Svamitva Abhilekh’ in Uttarakhand, and ‘Gharauni’ in Uttar Pradesh.
Benefits of the Scheme
The SVAMITVA Scheme is expected to bring financial stability to citizens in rural areas by enabling them to use their property as a financial asset. This will allow them to avail loans and other financial benefits. Additionally, it would aid in creating accurate land records for rural planning and assist in determining property tax.
Moreover, the infrastructure developed through this survey and the GIS maps can be utilized by other departments as well. The implementation of this scheme will help minimize property-related disputes and legal cases. It will also back the preparation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plans using GIS maps.
These plans are constitutionally required for the economic development and social justice of the Gram Panchayats. Furthermore, the GPDP is based on a participatory process in alignment with the schemes of all related Central Ministries/Line Departments associated with 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.
