• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually distributed more than 65 lakh property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme on January 18.

• The property cards are being distributed to beneficiaries across more than 50,000 villages in 10 states.

• The cards were distributed across more than 50,000 villages in 10 states and two Union Territories.

• Around 2.24 crore beneficiaries in villages will now have SVAMITVA property cards after 65 lakh cards are distributed.

• The event marked a landmark achievement in the SVAMITVA scheme, furthering the vision of empowering rural India with legal land ownership.

Significance of SVAMITVA scheme

• For decades, the survey and settlement of rural land in India had remained incomplete, with many states failing to map or document the ‘abadi’ (inhabited) areas of villages. 

• This lack of legal records left property owners in these areas without formal records effectively barring them from accessing institutional credit to upgrade their homes or use their property as a financial asset for loans and other financial assistance.

• The absence of such documentation posed a significant barrier to the economic progress of rural India. 

• Recognising the critical importance of legally recognised property records for economic empowerment, a modern solution was necessary.

• Consequently, the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme was conceptualised to leverage advanced drone technology for the survey and mapping of village ‘abadi’ areas.

• Launched on National Panchayati Raj Day, April 24, 2020, the SVAMITVA scheme aims to drive the economic transformation of rural India by providing property owners in village ‘abadi’ areas with a record of rights.

• Utilising advanced drone and GIS technology for land demarcation, the scheme fosters property monetisation, facilitates access to bank loans, minimises property disputes, and promotes comprehensive village-level planning.

Achievements of the scheme:

• At the national level, a total of 3,46,187 villages have been notified under the scheme, with drone flying completed in 3,17,715 villages, marking 92 per cent achievement.

• Maps have been handed over for state inquiries, and property cards have been prepared for 1,53,726 villages, resulting in the issuance of nearly 2.25 crore property cards.

• States like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have achieved 100 per cent drone surveys, with substantial progress in property card preparation at 73.57 per cent and 68.93 per cent, respectively.

• Haryana and Uttarakhand stand out with 100 per cent completion in both drone surveys and property card preparation. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan have made commendable progress in drone surveys, with Maharashtra and Gujarat achieving over 98 per cent, though further acceleration is needed in property card preparation.

• A total of 67,000 sq km of rural ‘abadi’ land has been surveyed, valued at Rs 132 lakh crore, emphasizing the economic significance of the initiative.

• A centralised online monitoring and reporting dashboard enables real-time tracking of implementation progress. Property cards are seamlessly accessible to beneficiaries through the DigiLocker app, allowing them to view and download their cards digitally.

• The scheme also employs survey-grade drones coupled with the Continuous Operating Referencing System (CORS) network to produce high-resolution maps swiftly and accurately, revolutionising the process of rural land demarcation.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)