As First Beneficiaries Of Svamitva Scheme Get Rural Property Cards, Here's Why It Is So Significant

On Sunday (11 October), Prime Minister (PM) Modi launched the physical distribution of documents under 'SVAMITVA' scheme via videoconferencing. SWAMITVA, which translates to ‘ownership’, entails physical distribution of property cards to rural landholders.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Friday described the launch as "a historic move set to transform rural India...", reports Livemint.

"This is the first time that such a large-scale exercise involving the most modern means of technology is being carried out to benefit millions of rural property owners", the PMO adds.

The scheme will be implemented in phases till 2024.

The scheme's launch saw around 132,000 land owners from 763 villages across six states - 346 from Uttar Pradesh, 221 from Haryana, 100 from Maharashtra, 44 from Madhya Pradesh, 50 from Uttarakhand and two from Karnataka, getting physical copies of their property titles.

These six states have already signed an MoU with Survey of India and the rural properties will be mapped via drone surveys.

The first phase of the scheme will be implemented in 2020-21 and will cover 1 lakh villages in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and few border villages of Punjab and Rajasthan.

The Significance Of This Scheme

Currently this scheme will enable around one lakh property holders to download their property cards through an SMS link sent on their mobile phones, followed by the physical distribution of property cards by the respective state governments.

These property cards will also allow villagers to use their properties as a financial asset, via which they will be able to take out loans, thus increasing the liquidity of the land assets.

Besides giving more financial power to rural property owners, this scheme is also expected to resolve longstanding property disputes. In many cases rural property owners do not have proper documentation of their land holdings.

The record of ownership post survey will be prepared by officials of the revenue department and other allied departments in the presence of the inhabitants. The officials will also make arrangements for on-spot settlement of disputes.

Administratively this scheme will enable the creation of better Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs). In April, alongside the launch of the SWAMITVA scheme, Prime Minister Modi had also launched an unified e-GramSwaraj Portal and mobile application which helps prepare and execute these GPDPs.

The scheme will also ensure streamlined planning, revenue collection and provide clarity over property rights in rural areas.