New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute 65 lakh property cards to property owners today via video conferencing. The distribution ceremony is scheduled to take place at 12:30 PM.
The property cards are part of the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme, launched by the Prime Minister to boost rural economic progress by granting a “Record of Rights” to households owning homes in inhabited areas of villages. The initiative leverages drone technology for accurate land surveys.
The SVAMITVA scheme aims to provide clear ownership records, reducing land disputes and improving governance in rural areas. “The scheme has marked a milestone in India’s rural empowerment and governance journey,” the statement noted.
Key benefits of the scheme include:
- Facilitating the monetization of properties through institutional credit like bank loans.
- Reducing property-related disputes.
- Enabling better property assessments and tax collection in rural areas.
- Supporting comprehensive village-level planning.
As of now, drone surveys have been completed in over 3.17 lakh villages, covering 92% of the targeted villages. Nearly 2.25 crore property cards have been prepared for 1.53 lakh villages.
The initiative has achieved full saturation in regions such as Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tripura, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. Significant progress has also been made in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, along with several Union Territories.
Launched on April 24, 2020 (National Panchayati Raj Day), the scheme reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening rural governance. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Modi distributed the first set of property cards virtually on October 11, 2020.