Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a historic milestone for rural India by distributing over 65 lakh property cards under the Svamitva scheme via video conferencing. Addressing the nation, he emphasized the transformative impact of this initiative on the rural economy and governance. The event saw beneficiaries from over 50,000 villages across 230 districts in 10 states and 2 union territories receiving property cards.
The Svamitva (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme, launched on April 24, 2020, on National Panchayati Raj Day, employs advanced drone technology to survey inhabited areas in villages. The objective is to provide “Record of Rights” to rural property owners, aiming to boost economic progress and governance in rural India. The scheme has significantly reduced property disputes and enabled clear ownership records, bringing transparency and stability to property ownership in villages.
With the help of high-resolution drone mapping, the initiative has created precise property ownership data, benefiting millions by minimizing land disputes. So far, drone surveys have been completed in over 3.17 lakh villages, covering 92% of the targeted villages. The government has prepared approximately 2.25 crore property cards, benefiting rural communities and streamlining property tax assessments.
This initiative has been fully implemented in Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tripura, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. States such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, along with several union territories, have also completed drone surveys under the scheme.
The Svamitva scheme is a milestone in India’s rural empowerment journey, offering various economic benefits. With property cards in hand, villagers can now leverage their assets for loans and other financial opportunities, facilitating asset monetization. The scheme has also brought a reduction in property-related disputes, which has long been a challenge in rural areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the scheme’s impact on the rural economy, describing it as a revolutionary step in empowering rural citizens. By formalizing property ownership, the Svamitva scheme is creating new avenues for economic growth while promoting efficient governance in India’s villages.
As the distribution of property cards progresses, this initiative is set to transform rural communities by ensuring equitable access to financial resources and fostering sustainable development across the nation.
