PM to distribute 58 lakh property cards to provide ‘record of rights’

Sub : Schemes

Sec: E Gov

Context:

In a significant milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to distribute 58 lakh property cards to landowners in 50,000 villages across 12 states under the Svamitva scheme.
The property cards issued under the scheme are now recognized by banks, making it easier for landowners to obtain loans and financial support.

About Svamitva Scheme:

The Svamitva (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Its primary objective is to digitize land and property records in rural areas to provide property rights and legal ownership to landowners.
Property card for every property in the village will be prepared by states using accurate measurements delivered by drone-mapping.
The scheme is expected to be completed by 2026, covering 31 States and Union Territories.
States like West Bengal, Bihar, Nagaland, and Meghalaya have not joined the scheme yet.
Further, Sikkim, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu participated only in the pilot phase and Telangana and Bihar have introduced their own versions of the scheme.

Objectives of the Scheme:

To create accurate and transparent property records, particularly in rural and unrecorded areas.
The scheme aims to enable rural property owners to leverage their property for loans and financial services from banks and other financial institutions.
By providing legal recognition of land ownership, the scheme intends to reduce disputes and conflicts regarding land ownership.
In some cases, the scheme has helped establish women’s ownership over property, promoting gender equity in rural areas.
The property records can be used for better village planning and identifying open spaces for community development.